Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SPYF) announced to launch a state-wide movement against the recent switching of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) legislators to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).
SPYF demanded that the defected legislators should resign immediately for breaking the trust of the people and for disrespecting the people’s mandate.
In its series of state-wide activities, SPYF has announced to start its protest from a mass protest rally on Sunday in Gangtok.
Addressing a press conference in Gangtok on Friday, SPYF member Shankar Sharma expressed that the mandate of the people has been overlooked in the recent political development in the State.
He added that the people have been considered as the most powerful in democracy and the people use their power to choose their representatives to work in their interest.
“People voted for SKM and kept SDF in the opposition in this election. However, due to the defection of SDF legislators to another party that received 1.62 per cent votes became the main opposition party in the assembly,” Sharma added.
He further alleged that horse-trading of legislators after the election without the consultation and knowledge of the people was disrespect to the people’s mandate and a direct attack on their democratic rights.
“If the people’s representatives would not respect the people’s mandate then there was no use of the election,” Sharma said.
“Instead, the representatives should be selected through tender or auction,” said Sharma further said adding that the present defection was totally unacceptable.
“We have decided to take our movement ahead through the Citizen Forum against Defected MLAs. It is an open forum for all to come together,” he said.
“Our movement will continue until these defected MLAs resign on moral grounds,” Sharma further added.
He appealed everyone to join the movement for saving democracy and give respect to the people’s mandates.
He asserted that these legislators do not deserve to be the people’s representatives and enter the assembly.