Sikkim Swatantra Nari Sangathan condemns attack on woman panchayat candidate

GANGTOK, 07 Nov: Sikkim Swatantra Nari Sangathan lashed out against the State administration today with regard to the assault on Geeta Sharma, an independent candidate who won the Martam Nazitam ward in the recently held panchayat elections.
Addressing a press meet today, member of the Sangathan, Kala Rai said, “On the one hand, the Chief Minister talks about 50% reservation for women and security for women in the state while on the other hand, a woman is beaten by an SDF candidate”.
Lashing out at the Women’s Commission, she said, “The Women’s Commission is supposed to work for the safety and protection of women in the state but why is it silent at this point of time?”
Further raising questions on the lack of action, Ms Rai stated that the Sangathan will raise its voice against such violence against women in the state and stage a dharna if needed.
Another member, Mingma Lamu Bhutia alleged that the police are not doing anything about the incident. She added that no SDF member has come to enquire about the victim’s condition till now.
“Does the 50% reservation for women also include getting attacked?”, she questioned.  She went on to state that the accused, Deepak Tamang should not have been released on bail by the police for such an act.