LAMKA, April 2: Chiefs of the Hills district in Manipur today called a 12 hour bandh starting 6am tomorrow to conclude at 6pm the same day in all six hills districts of Manipur.
The band was announced during a press conference called this evening at the residence of Sialmat Village chief of Churachandpur district.
Speaking on the occasion, spokesman of The All Tribal Chief Forum, Manipur and United Chief Forum Lalmalsom, chief of Mualbem village said that they will be waiting for the government to respond till April 5.
If the government fail to respond even then, then the chiefs will intensify their agitation or effect a total boycott of the Congress Party in Manipur during the LS polls, he said.
He said the Congress has manipulated the rights of the village chiefs with the introduction of the Village Development Council.
The council has been introduced by the government to create a distance between the chiefs and the villagers, he alleged.
The scanty release of fund and the limited sanctioning of materials are unacceptable and has led to the chiefs resorting to the course of agitation, he added.
He further alleged that 90 percent of the MGNREGS fund from the centre was being utilised by the Congress government of Manipur to pay off salaries to its employees which is one reason for the poor execution of scheme.
The spokesman further said that during the band PHED, Electricity, Health and media will be exempted from the preview of the bandh.
Meanwhile, the Zomi Chief Association GHQ, in a press note has said that they will co-operate and support the decision of the ATCFM.