Date set for charting out Jiri district demand course
Rishang's stand draws flak
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2011: The Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) is all set to take a definite decision on the course of action to be taken up in pursuance of its demand for upgradation of Jiribam sub-division to a full-fledged district on September 9 .

On the other hand, the Committee has strongly resented the remarks of former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing who contended that there is no need for creation of any new districts in Manipur except Sadar hills.

The Committee has also announced its decision of taking up necessary action if Rishang Keishing does not come out with a clarification in this regard.

According to a reliable source, a meeting of the Jiribam District Demand Committee convened today at Jiribam continued with its discussion on the demand and the measures taken up so far.

Yesterday too, a similar meeting of the Committee was convened.

At the end of the two-day marathon meeting, it has been decided to convene a public meeting at Jiribam town hall on September 9 .

A map showing JIribam in Imphal East

In the proposed meeting, a final decision would be taken on the course of action to be taken up including road block, etc in pursuance of the demand for district status on Jiribam and the same would be announced to the people.

After the first round of talk held here between the Chief Minister and a delegation of Jiribam District Demand Committee on August 30 last failed, the Committee claimed to have lost the trust reposed on the Chief Minister and announced that no further talk would be entertained.

Instead, it started holding a series of meetings with various Imphal-based civil organisations including student bodies to mobilise the public for a mass movement.

According to another source, following the failure of the talk which was held at the invitation of the Chief Minister after the Committee had made necessary preparation for launching a series of intense agitations, the Committee felt that such talks would not bring about any solution and decided to convene a public meeting on September 9 to arrive at a definite decision on the future course of action to be taken up.

Meanwhile, convenor of Jiribam District Demand Committee M Maipaksana has conveyed that a meeting of the Committee today has taken serious note of the remarks made by MP Rishang Keishing that there is no need for creation of any new district except Sadar hills.

"Rishang Keishing may have come up with such irresponsible remarks on account of his advanced age.

But it would be better on his part not to repeat it," a statement issued by the Committee in connection with its meeting said.

The statement pointed out in addition to the commitment of the Government of Manipur, the Delimitation Commission of India had expressed no objection to the upgradation of Jiribam sub-division to a full-fledged district and only a State Cabinet decision is awaited.

At such a junction, irresponsible remarks from Rishang Keishing, who had not only been the Chief Minister of Manipur for long but is also the MP from Manipur in the Rajya Sabha currently is very unfortunate, the statement observed.

Questioning whether Rishang Keishing is above the Government of India, the Committee wondered why he should speak against the Delimitation Commission.

Demanding Rishang Keishing to clarify in this regard within two days, the Committee has warned of taking collective decision in the proposed meeting on September 9 to boycott the MP in case of failure.