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Gangtok,7th Sept : Bikash Basnet,Political Secretary to CM reacting to Ganesh Rai’s statements over Social Media has said, ‘It is truly unfortunate that one self-proclaimed opposition leader, through his repeated live sessions, has chosen to circulate negativity instead of contributing constructively. His approach of digging into every small matter , whether accommodation, food, or logistics of the High Power Committee, reveals nothing but his hidden intent to derail the genuine demand for ST status for the 12 left out communities of Sikkim.’
Without mentioning Rai’s name Basnet added ,’This attempt to create sensational issues only shows that, deep in his heart, he does not want these 12 communities to be granted tribal status. As someone rightly said “𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙, 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩; 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩”.
According to Basnet, ‘Worse still, this leader has openly spoken against respected community leaders. Such behavior is not only irresponsible but also a direct insult to those who have invested years of effort, research and sacrifice in drafting one of the finest ethnographic reports. This report has been widely appreciated by experts and even looked upon by other states as a model mechanism. Unlike the past, where during the SDF regime reports were prepared without consulting community leaders or experts and were rejected twice by the Registrar General of India during SDF regime , the present government under HCM Shri P.S. Golay has given full freedom to community representatives and experts to prepare a strong, authentic report.’
‘Instead of acknowledging this, the so-called opposition is busy attacking community leaders, questioning petty arrangements, and spreading mistrust. This is not just an attack on individuals but an insult to entire communities, because these organizations and leaders represent the aspirations of their people.It must also be remembered that when SKM was in opposition, we consistently raised the issue of the 12 left out communities—in the Legislative Assembly, in public forums, and by submitting memorandums to the Central leadership. Today, after forming the government, we are pursuing this matter positively and with strong determination. In contrast, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙢, 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙’
‘From the very first day of the formation of the High Power Committee, they have blindly opposed, defamed and tried to undermine its process. Such destructive politics only exposes their frustration’
Basnet highlighted , ‘What Sikkim needs at this historic juncture is unity, constructive support, and collective will. To oppose community leaders and their painstaking work is not only shameful but also against the very aspirations of the 12 left out communities who have waited decades for justice.’
