IMPHAL, November 30: The food stalls at the Sangai Festival claimed that they were made to face needless harassments in the course of the security arrangement for the Prime Minister`™s visit.
Speaking to the media this evening near the venue of the festival, a representative of the Chinjak Festival group said that the last minute notice of the Commerce & Industries director, government of Manipur to remove LPG cylinders from the venue on the eve of the Prime Minister`™s visit came as a surprise.
`But we have cooperated with the organiser in larger interest of the festival`, he added.
He continued that today after the PM had left the venue, the stall owners tried to bring back the LPG cylinders into the stalls but the security personnel forced them to transport the heavy load through the main entrance.
`We had to carry the cylinders over our heads from the Andro Parking area amidst the heavy rush of people,` he lamented.
Another participant, Toijam Priyokumar said that today being the last day of the festival they needed to sell their products to recover the deposit money of Rs 10 thousand.
`But we were not allowed to be in a position to do so because of the harassment meted out to us`, he said.
He went on to claim that the festival did not seem to have been meant for the general public, but for the ministers, MLAs and high ranking officials of the government only.
He also alleged that some security personnel allowed LPG cylinders of their close relatives inside the venue, which is shameful and condemnable.