IMPHAL, February 22: The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has temporarily relaxed the closure of all the government offices and establishments in Tamenglong district from February 23 considering the hardships and difficulties being faced by the students community in particular, appeal from common public, staff and officials of different departments in general.
In a statement, the ZYF reiterated that the closure clamped from February 17 was launched in protest against the non-relocation of Office of the Deputy Commissioner and other district level Allied Offices at the District Secretariat Complex which was constructed at Rs 36.26 crores.
It reminded that the District Secretariat Complex was already inaugurated on November 3, 2011 by P Chidambaram, the then Union Home Minister as the chief guest and Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh as the guest of honor in the presence of top bureaucrats and officials.
The front had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister on January 23 giving fifteen days time for relocation of all the government offices at the already inaugurated District Secretariat Complex prior to the launching of democratic agitation but the government’s negligence to the demand has compelled the agitation, the statement said.
It claimed that the government’s popular slogan “equal development” for both hills and valley is totally irrelevant and a complete “mockery and farce” when it comes to Tamenglong district.
Just imagine the development works in the district if the District Secretariat Complex which was already inaugurated by the Union Home Minister cannot become operational, ZYF wondered.
The banning of performing works for National and International Projects by different companies and agencies such as ABCI, Coastal, Treveni, Shushee, Nayak, Unicon, Infra, ADB, Simplex, Keystone etc in Zeliangrong areas will continue until concrete assurance from the government is given. Any companies or agencies found to have performed in violation of the ban shall be at their own risks and responsibilities, it cautioned.
The ZYF in the statement also said in addition to the banning of works for National and International Projects, indefinite blockade along National Highway-37 shall be affected very soon to protest against the ill-treatment meted out by the government to the people of Tamenglong.