GANGTOK,: Opposition SDF on Thursday demanded an immediate arrest of Samson Tamang for his alleged offensive rant against the Khas community. The party also questioned who is sponsoring the accused to create communal disharmony in Sikkim.
“Samson Tamang should have been immediately arrested after he posted the derogatory and divisive statements on social media against the Khas community. He even goes to the extent of threatening to assault the Khas community members with a stick. However, it is unfortunate that the SKM government has not taken any action so far,” said SDF spokesperson Krishna Kharel at a press meet here.
Kharel contended that Samson, a resident of Darjeeling region, is being backed by someone powerful enough to given him the courage to speak out mindlessly against the Khas community. “Which force is giving him the courage to make racist, casteist and offensive remarks against the Khas community? Police should immediately arrest him and find out his sponsor,” he said.
Kharel expressed his disappointment that the elected public representatives of the Khas community have not condemned such vile remarks against their community, and also did not raise the issue during yesterday’s Assembly session.
“The Chief Minister only gives speeches on this matter but has not taken a strong action. We do not want speeches but action against those who are trying to disrupt communal harmony in Sikkim,” Kharel said.
The SDF spokesperson pointed out that Samson’s social media profile shows his photos with SKM functionaries, adding that the individual was also seen at events attended by the Sikkim Chief Minister.
Kharel asserted that the SDF will continue to pursue its demand for action against Samson till the person is arrested and all his offensive remarks are removed from social media.
“The SKM government brought Central laws into Sikkim that were in violation of Article 371F and weakened our Constitutional protection. Due to this, outsiders are now making verbal assaults on the Sikkimese people. This is due to the SKM government’s weakness as they failed in their duty as the guardian of the people of Sikkim,” said the SDF spokesperson.