Imphal, July 27 (NNN): Naga People`™s Front (Manipur State Unit) cited Manipur government`™s inefficiency and negligence in `proper`™ formation of six Autonomous District Councils as the reason behind calling of general strike in the hill areas of today. The front has called `total shut down`™ strike in all the six ADC areas from July 26 midnight to today midnight. Due to the strike, normal lives were heavily paralysed.
This was informed to our agency by the NPF state president while speaking exclusively to this agency from the party`™s office at Imphal`™s Dewlahland today.
President Awanbou Newmai said, `Delay in the bestowment of power to the elected ADC members only shows the government`™s negligence of the hill people and its disrespect to the democratic rights exercised by the hill citizens of the state. Even though it`™s been more than a month and a half that the ADC results were out, no council can function properly till yet. Apart from our party, the hill people know this negligence of the government and have hence supported the strike today.`
He expressed his gratitude to the various hill-based civil bodies that supported today`™s protest. Awanbou also appreciated the huge role that media played in disseminating the current `unfortunate`™ situation of the hill people. He appealed the media fraternity to keep continuing with its role of bridging the gap between the hill people and the rest of the state and the government.
Commenting on the ADC Election that concluded few ways back, Awanbou Newmai further added, `Holding of grass-root level democratic process such as ADC polls is a very good and important step, and I thank the hill people for making the polls a success and for fully exercising their democratic rights. I also would appeal the government to ensure transparency and to take due care while conducting such grass-level democratic exercises in urban areas, during the times of Municipality and Panchayat elections. Fair conduct brings unity while negligent and unfair conduct brings disturbance to the unity fabric to the people of the state.`
The NPF Manipur president also stated, `Our party achieving majority in four ADCs shows the trust and faith that the hill people have on us, and there should not be an iota of doubt in the results. If the Manipur government fails to give a concrete reply and assurance on the fate of the ADC elected members, then we will be ready to launch severe forms of protests than today`™s strike and will also take up the matter to the higher authorities at the Centre.`
On the other hand, addressing on the ongoing widespread agitation in Manipur regarding the demand of ILP system, Awanbou Newmai said, `The present unfortunate issue has arisen out of careless attitude of the government on the issue and its half-hearted attitude to the wishes of the people. In the process, life of one student, Sapam Robinhood, was also lost which could have been avoided. Saying so, we appreciate its effort to draft a new Bill and hope that it fulfils the demands of the people. `
He also blamed the Ibobi-led Congress government for seeing only the prospects in everything without any performance, and accounted this as the reason for the major issues that are happening in the state.
NPF also made its clear stand on the grievances faced by the nearby locals of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project (commonly known as Thoubal Dam). He said, `The stipulated time for the completion of the project is 24 years, but now even after 34 years, the project is left incomplete. At the cost of development, the happiness and life of the common people should not be affected. The recent case of breakage of Sekmai Dam again reaffirms the occurrence of corruption in such developmental projects.`
He appealed the government and officials concerned to be extremely careful and competent in construction of such big projects. The NPF state president also demanded the state government `to step down`™ if it fails in performing to the expectations of its people.