Sub-division should be renamed Khousabung not Kangvai, demands KSDDC
IMPHAL, February 11: The Khousabung Sub-Division Demand Committee, (KSDDC) while denouncing the cabinet decision to rename Thangting Subdivision as `Kangvai` subdivision, urged the Chief Minister to review the decision and rename the subdivision as `Khousabung` failing which it threatened to launch intense form of agitation.
Speaking to media persons in this connection at the Manipur Press Club, KSDDC spokesperson, Ng Sang, appreciated the efforts taken up by the government to rename Thangting subdivision, after it was mired in controversy.
“As much as we appreciate the efforts to rename the subdivision, we feel pain to notice that the `common interest` and democratic voice of the people concerned has been ignored and democratic principles have been overlooked by the State Cabinet”, he contended.
According to him majority of the people covered by the new subdivision have already conveyed their wish to locate the subdivisional headquarters at Khousabung and added that they want it to be renamed as Khousabung if the need arises.
He said that there are around 125 villages, inhabited by different ethnic tribal communities including Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Kom, Rongmei, Thadou, Vaiphei, etc, in the new subdivision circle. More than 100 village chiefs of different tribal communities, except for one particular community, have conveyed their preference to locate the subdivisional headquarters at Khousabung village, which is also a District Council Constituency (DCC) headquarters.
Against this backdrop, the Cabinet Decision has posed as a disregard against the common aspiration and humble prayers of the people covered by the new subdivision, he said before construing it as `rap of democracy`. The Cabinet decision has not only acted as catalyst to further marginalise the neglected people of the area but also hurt the sentiment of the people beyond imagination, he continued.
The KSDDC spokesperson opined that there was no need to relocate the sub-divisional headquarters at Kangvai, which is located just about 8 kms from Churachandpur district headquarters.
He warned that the KSDDC will be compelled to launch intense forms of agitation in collaboration with likeminded civil society organisations if the Government fails to review its `biased decision` within a week’s time.
The KSDDC also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur in this regards requesting to review the cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, locals of Khousabung area today staged a sit-in at Khousabung village denouncing the Cabinet decision to rename Thangting subdivision as Kangvai. The protesters said that Khousabung is the most centrally located place of the area covered by the new subdivision.
They demanded that the Govt stop playing communal politics.