Centre should resolve Limboo, Tamang reservation issue immediately: MP Rai

EOI, GANGTOK, 16 Mar 2016: Sikkim MP PD Rai on Tuesday urged the Centre to urgently resolve the issue of reservation for the Limboo and Tamang communities in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and proposed a joint Centre-State committee to find an acceptable solution within the framework of the Burman Commission report. He was speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha yesterday. 

The Limboo and Tamang communities were included in the Scheduled Tribes list through the Constitution Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002. He said the two communities deserve seat reservation in the state legislative assembly in proportion to their population as mandated by Article 332 of the Constitution. 

The issue has been subjudice since 2006 and on January 4 of this year, the Supreme Court directed the Union home ministry to “take a decision in the matter within four months”. 

The MP said, “The central government has not taken any action in this regard till date. As the issue is special and very sensitive in nature, I urge the Centre to initiate action as recommended by the Sikkim government several times. Whatever steps are taken should be in alignment with the recommendations laid down by the Burman Commission.” 

Rai also proposed of forming “a Committee of Secretaries of both the Centre and the State” to immediately resolve the issue.