From district to sack Ranjit cry rends the air, SHDDC puts stir on top gear
SHDDC calls indefinite bandh in Sadar Hills areas
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 29 2011: The SHDDC has called a 48 hour general strike/total bandh in the hill areas of Manipur to be effective from midnight from October 31 till midnight of November 2, and an indefinite total bandh in Sadar Hills with effect from midnight of October 31 in protest against the delay in delivering justice to the people of Sadar Hills.

In a statement, the SHDDC alleged that the Government of Manipur has been communalising the constitutional issue of upgrading Sadar Hills to the status of full-fledged district to ignite tension among communities in Manipur.

"While SHDDC has not a bit of intention to dislocate the integrity of our land, the State Government has falsely been propagating unfounded and illogical agenda against the inauguration merely to achieve electoral gains by considering the communal interests sans the general development, welfare and future of the State", it asserted.

The people of Sadar Hills do not ask for separate land but separate administration for better development which the Constitution of India had envisioned back in 1971, it said.

The slogans on the festoons say it all

Stating that leaving a Constitutional Act or provision unimplemented in a particular area without proper and suitable reasons for forty years is a matter of Constitutional crisis, the SHDDC maintained that the Act has already lost its purpose through several amendments by Manipur Assembly.

"We wonder why the Union Government at the Centre has little knowledge on the law it had made" .

If the Constitutional law enacted by Indian Parliament for and on behalf of the State of Manipur is not implemented for forty years, does not the Parliament that enacted the Act and judiciary have any role to play in it?", it asked.

The naked truth on the status of Sadar Hills as an un-administered region is clearly proved by the unjustifiable act of Manipur elite forces commanded by a Minister in the State Government Mr K Ranjit Singh by unleashing a reign of terror in the evening of October 27, the SHDDC alleged .

"It revealed, without further question, that the State Government has a clandestine policy to further subjugate and gag the democratic voice of the people by forceful means.

It was a deliberate and mayhem act which caused serious injuries to 8 women peaceful agitators.

"We the people of Sadar Hills have become impatient after waiting for forty years for justice.

Unfortunately nothing cometh forth from both Union Government of India and Manipur Government on an issue which is said to be Constitutional, genuine and rightful.

"Both the Union Government and the State Government have shown little inclination to address the Sadar Hills issue.

Since we began our prayer to the State Government 3 months have passed and nothing positive is coming out of our prayer" the committee lamented.

The Committee also appealed to the general public and hill-bases civil societies to observe the bandh and support SHDDC and enforce the bandh in their respective areas for the cause of justice to the tribals of Manipur in general.