ASGPF condemns Bhandari’s statements on BL seats

GANGTOK, 11 Apr: All Sikkim Gorkha Protection Force [ASGPF] held a meeting today to discuss the statement given by Sikkim Sangram Parishad president Nar Bahadur Bhandari on 09 April at Rangpo. The meeting has strongly criticized and condemned Mr. Bhandari’s statement supposedly in defence of the BL seats in his speech.

A press release of the ASGPF convener, KB Rai informs that in the hearing of the case between RC Poudyal and Union of India in 1992 Sikkimese Nepali were termed immigrants. The release further says that if Mr Bhandari had put his efforts to win this case, then the Sikkimese Nepali would not have been branded foreigners.

In the absence of seat reservation, the majority Sikkimese Gorkhas are living like second class citizens in the state and such statements by Mr Bhandari would further affect the political future of the majority community, Mr Rai states.

ASGPF has further termed 09 April a “black day” for the Sikkimese Gorkha community.