At Melli on Monday, alleged Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) members attempted to obstruct the start of a parade organised by the former head of the SDF, Ganesh Rai.
Under the banner of the Reform Call, Rai had already made the Sikkim Sudhar (reform) Sankalpa (resolve) Yatra announcement.
The statewide yatra is thought to be an introduction to the beginning of his new party.
According to eyewitnesses, the Reform Yatra began in Melli Dara with about 200 participants before being stopped a short distance away by claimed SKM members who denounced the march and yelled insults at Rai. The march eventually continued on its way to Namthang, which is 35 kilometres from Melli.
“Nobody is against our yatra. The purpose of the yatra, according to Rai, is to discover methods to improve Sikkim. Rai added that he couldn’t fathom the SKM’s motivation for opposing the yatra.
The former vice-president of the SDF, Rai, repeatedly stated that he will introduce his new party during the yatra.
“The yatra is just getting started. For 15 to 16 months, this will continue… Today the yatra began. We’ll soon announce the formation of a political party,” he stated.
The government dismissed the Reform Yatra as a play and applauded those who protested Rai and his team.
“Some senior and young residents of the Melli constituency today demonstrated vehemently against these politicians who engage in divisive and self-serving politics. We salute them,” said Jacob Khaling, the SKM’s spokesperson, during a mass joining event for his party that took place in Melli.
The SKM denied having a joining programme because it was alarmed by the idea of Rai forming his party 15 months before the upcoming Assembly elections in 2024.
They haven’t officially started their party. It is unclear under what forum they are working and why this yatra was necessary. We are concentrated on our own program,” said Bikash Basnet, the SKM’s media cell’s chief coordinator.
However, Bhaichung Bhutia, the leader of the Hamro Sikkim Party, gave Rai support for his yatra.
“I send him luck,” The Sudhar Yatra is of utmost significance. In 2014, we will have to reverse the damage the SKM government has done to Sikkim over the last three years, he said.
