The Sikkimese Bhutia Association (SBA) has strongly condemned a recent statement by Ganesh Rai, President of the Citizen Action Party (CAP), regarding the 12 left-out communities of Sikkim.

In a press release, the SBA emphasized that communal harmony has always been a hallmark of Sikkim and its people and must be preserved at all costs. The Association described Rai’s statement as “unfortunate and irresponsible,” noting that it could undermine the ongoing efforts to include the 12 left-out communities in the Union list of Scheduled Tribes.

The SBA called on all stakeholders, including political parties, to act responsibly and base public statements on in-depth research to ensure that collective efforts benefit the common goal of inclusion. The Association also expressed solidarity with Chief Minister P. S. Tamang (Golay) and the 12 communities at this crucial stage.

The statement comes at a time when the movement for inclusion of the left-out communities has gained significant momentum.