5 Star dream : Sonia notes outcry
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 16 2011: Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, while acknowledging the growing public fury against the State Government's decision to set up a 5 star hotel after evicting the residents of Naga river colony has assured that the authorities responsible would be approached.

The lavish hotel is to be upgraded from the existing State run Hotel Imphal located close to the colony also known as Kabo Leikai that houses around thirty families belonging to different ethnic communities.

Claiming that they have been living there since ages, the residents said that the Government's plan to set up the luxurious hotel after evicting them and grounding worship places and grave yards is an attempt to break the age-old tradition of coexisting among different communities in harmony.

It would also amount to disrespecting the religious beliefs of the people.

They have been demanding the Government to revoke its order the eviction notice served earlier.

A local pressure group – Joint Action Committee against the arbitrary displacement of Naga river colony 25-A Kabo Leikaiand the colony residents said they are happy to learn that Sonia Gandhi has assured to look into the matter for the 'well being of the threatened inhabitants from the anticipated displacement.' The pressure group, in a statement released today, said Sonia's assurance was given to John Dayal, member of National Integration Council, New Delhi.

A letter dated July 7 written by Sonia to Dayal, which is enclosed with the statement, said " I have received your letter of 2nd July 2011 along with the enclosed report of the Fact Finding Team looking into the threat of forceful eviction of the people of Naga River village in Manipur.

I shall request the concerned authority to look into the matter." The pressure group's statement said the villagers are apprehensive that they may be evicted soon if the process of land acquisition, Vigilance Dept stalking the public with the intention to seize the long processed original documents as well as the imposition of 144 CrPC are not suspended.

Villagers of Kabo Leikai possessing genuine pattas are also disturbed to hear the process taken up by the Revenue Department for the possible cancellation of their pattas, said the statement and demanded that this should be stopped at once.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh had recently said that his Government was considering allotting resettlement and rehabilitation programme to the Naga river colony residents.

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