Okram Ibobi Singh
Imphal, Sept 4 : A public meeting convened by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee at Keithelmanbi (Sadar Hills) today discussed the suspension of the monthlong blockade but it remained inconclusive as no consensus could be reached.
This is the fourth such public meeting organised by the demand committee since August 29 to seek public opinion on the future course of action.
Spokesman for the committee Seikhothang Haokip said the suspension of the ongoing blockade along the national highways was discussed at the meeting, but it remained inconclusive as no decision could be taken.
“There was difference of opinion between the strike leaders and the public about suspension of the agitation. No decision could be taken and the issue will be discussed further,” Haokip said.
Sources said some leaders were in favour of suspending the agitation for a month while others wanted to continue with the strike and blockade.
The total bandh imposed by the demand committee, including movement of vehicles carrying essential items along Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways, entered its 34th day today. The committee launched its agitation on July 31 midnight.
Leaders of the demand committee, former minister Ngamthang Haokip and members of the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council attended the meeting today.
The issue of suspension of the blockade came after chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh constituted an official-level committee, headed by chief secretary D.S. Poonia, to look into the boundary issue of the proposed district. He also promised to take a final decision on the issue after getting a report from the committee within three months.
Ibobi Singh had also repeatedly appealed to the demand committee and the United Naga Council (UNC) to lift the blockade.
The UNC had imposed a blockade since August 21 along Manipur’s supply lines to protest against any division of Naga areas while creating Sadar Hills district. Sadar Hills, having three Assembly constituencies, is a part of Senapati district.
The Indigenous Kuki Peoples’ Forum also extended support and warned the state government of an intense phase of agitation if the demand was not conceded.
Though leaders of the Kuki forum had already joined hands with the demand committee and held discussions in the current phase of agitation, this is the first time that the forum separately voiced its concern over the “delaying tactics” of the government.
“If the demand is legitimate, it should be granted immediately. If unjustified, the government should come out in black and white. There should not be any delaying tactics,” Lien Gangte, general secretary of the forum, told a news conference here today.
Rejecting the constitution of the government committee, president of the forum R.R. Chothe said to end the suffering of people, the district should be created without any delay.
Both the leaders blamed the state government for the current price rise and scarcity of essential commodities. They said the only solution was declaration of Sadar Hills district. “If the delaying tactics continue, we will mobilise mass support and launch a more intense agitation,” Gangte said.