GANGTOK, Oct 18 - Sikkim Republican Party president KB Rai has demanded that the BJP should make its stand clear on the issue of reservation of Assembly seats for Limboo, Tamang and Nepali communities before the State bypolls. He asked the BJP�s State chief, DB Chauhan, to immediately clarify the saffron party�s stand on reservation of seats for the Limboo, Tamang and 11 Nepali communities who have been left out of the tribal list in the State. With Union minister Kiren Rijiju coming to the State to campaign, a definite assurance on the issue must be given, he stressed.
Slamming the new SKM-BJP alliance in the Himalayan State as betrayal of the sentiments of the people of Sikkim, Rai maintained that the people of the State are feeling insecure because of this alliance, and that this fear cannot be ignored.
The Sikkim Republican Party has long demanded equal political and land rights for the three ethnic communities of Sikkim � Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalis. The party projects itself as a vocal proponent of the rights of the rights of the majority Nepalis in the State.
The Sikkim Assembly has seats reserved on ethnic lines, with the Bhutias and the Lepchas being given 12 seats. Till 1979, the majority Nepali community also had 12 reserved seats, which were later withdrawn.
