Trouble over police permission for JAC rally

DICHEN ONGMU, EOI, GANGTOK, MARCH 9/--/ The Sikkimese Unity Festival organized by the Joint Action Council at M. G.Marg on Thursday got delayed for hours over difficulties in securing police permission for the rally. 

Police sources said the JAC had sent only intimation about the festival but no official permission had been issued in view of the closure of the inner circle of M. G. Marg due to the on-going preparations for the G 20Summit. 

 JAC President Shanta Pradhan said: “Our youths had informed the concerned authorities about the festival, which we thought was equivalent to taking permission. Upon our arrival here, we learned we had to take an official permission which we did not acquire.

”Slogans were shouted at the rally, calling for unity amongst the Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali communities, followed by some cultural presentations. A number of Sikkimese people turned up for the festival in their traditional attires.