Gangtok: Former speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly KN Rai attacked in Majhi Gaon under the Melli constituency on Friday afternoon. Rai, a 4-time legislator with the Sikkim Democratic Front party, was carrying out the party’s campaign by visiting citizens in the constituency.
Following the attack, the SDF party filed an FIR at Melli police station as well as submitted a memorandum via mail to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. SDF also held a press conference in its Gangtok party office wherein they blamed the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party for the attack.
SDF vice president MN Dahal addressing the media shared, “KN Rai along with party spokesperson Shiva Kumar Timshina were attacked along with another elderly citizen. He was carrying out the party’s campaign visiting citizens in Majhi Gaon, Melli. He has suffered a head injury, and a bloodied picture of him is circulating across social media. He is being rushed to Siliguri in North Bengal for treatment.”
SDF took the platform to blame the ruling SKM government for the ‘heinous attack’ on the former speaker. “We have no doubt it was the SKM party goons who attacked KN Rai with the intention of killing him. Rai is a senior citizen with a medical history. This is the most vicious attack upon the SDF party cadre. He was left unattended after the attack”, said Arun Limboo of the SDF party.
SDF blamed Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay as well, if ‘anything untoward were to happen to KN Rai’, claiming Golay runs an organized crime against SDF. “Since 2019, there have been countless such incidents when SDF party leaders and cadres have been attacked. Either it is pelting stones at former Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling or the current CM Golay openly declaring to enter homes and beat up the opposition. A day after his resounding speech against SDF, party leader Ramesh Kirat was viciously attacked in his home by SKM goons. Yet, no one ever gets caught by the Police,” questioned Dahal.
SDF demanded the resignation from CM Golay as well as placed demands for the President’s Rule in Sikkim. “When a 4 time MLA cannot carry out campaigning before elections when the Police cannot guarantee protection, and no one gets caught for such crimes, we fear the upcoming elections will not be fair. We demand resignation from the CM on moral grounds as well as the imposition of President’s rule in Sikkim”.
SDF also claimed that Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya has been ‘a mute spectator’ to the attacks on SDF party workers, stating how multiple memorandums submitted by SDF against the attacks have been ignored.
SDF claimed they would not rest until all the attackers were arrested.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay took to his social media to condemn the attack on the former speaker. He wrote, “I strongly condemn the unpleasant and anti-social act of assault on former Speaker Shri KN Rai in Melli, Namchi district today. Shri KN Rai, a respected politician and senior citizen, should never have been subjected to such mistreatment. Strong actions against the perpetrators will be initiated, ensuring justice for the victim. Our state thrives on peace and harmony, and such despicable acts will not be tolerated. I urge everyone to uphold peace, unity, and tranquillity, rejecting violence and strife.”
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