SKM calls off bandh after court order

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 28 February 2019, Gangtok: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday called off its proposed bandh slated for Thursday, a day after Sikkim High Court in an interim order asked the party to refrain from going ahead with the protest.

Addressing a press conference at the SKM headquarters here, P.S. Golay said the bandh was called off at the directive of the court. "In deference to the order of the court, we withdraw the bandh called by the SKM from 6am on February 28 to 6am on March 1," the SKM chief said.

"Instead, the SKM will observe a hunger strike at its offices across the state from 10am to 4pm on Thursday. The slogan for the hunger strike will be: Save democracy in Sikkim," he added, while accusing the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) of being responsible for the murder of democracy in the state.

The SKM had called the bandh to protest the non-fulfillment of its 35-point demand by the state government. Some of their demands include, reserved seats in the Assembly for the Limbu Tamang communities, granting of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Nepali-speaking communities and regularisation of temporary jobs, among others.

"We had placed the 35point demand before the government on behalf of the people, but it didn't fulfill them by February 25 (the deadline set by the party). The SDF showed no seriousness in meeting any of the demands. We strongly protest this," Golay said.

The SKM president accused the SDF government of resorting to all sorts of tactics to foil the bandh, which he claimed enjoyed the overwhelming support of the people. "When they call a bandh, it's not unconstitutional, and when we do, it is labelled unconstitutional," he said.

Golay, however, pointed out that the court had only issued a restraining order to the party with regards to its proposed bandh, and had not commented on the legality of bandhs..