Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, October 26:
The proposed Joint Administrative building for the district appears shoddier by the day as three tribal bodies join the wrangle that has been the domain of allegation and counter allegation for student bodies for quite sometime.
Kuki Students Organisation Churachandpur, the first organization to made its spat public declared on 14 October its intention to launch 48 hours general strike from 18 October due to what it term as 'the unprecedented delay of laying foundation stone and construction work of Churachandpur Jt.
Administrative building' at Tuibuang, a locality dominated by the Kuki community.
Following the request of Chin Students Association, KSO however deferred their agitation for 20 October and later suspend it indefinitely.
On 21 October Zomi Students Federation term the alleged interference of KSO for the proposed construction as uncalled for and driven by vested interest.
'It will be a blunder on the part of the Government of Manipur if it has taken a decision to construct the Jt Administrative building at Tuibuang' declared the ZSF in a strongly worded press statement and said it shall not remain a mere spectator if it does not receive any positive response on or before 24 October.
Then on the 24th October, to bully their objective ZSF plead that all Zomi employees take mass casual leave from 25 October.
The following day, the caveat plead was extended to all government employees except medical department.
On Tuesday, HK Joute president of Hmar Inpui, HVL Sanga president of Mizo Peoples Convention (Manipur) and LB Sona President of Zomi Council in a memo to the Chief Minister beg that the said building be build at a place 'accessible for all and all communities' and 'not at a place as it is now.' It also warns that any deviation from their view will not be accepted and objected to.
Meanwhile, Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU) in an effort to douse the situation today calls on both the ZSF and KSO to lie low and appeals for refrain and exercise restrain.
Launching allegation, counter allegation or tirades and accusation will only complicate further what is already a very complicated issue with strong communal overtones, the apex student body of the district CDSU said in a statement.
As a sole common neutral platform of the student's community, the union said it if of the opinion that the Govt should construct the joint administrative building in its discretion and where it deems fit.
CDSU also lament that nomenclature based communalism continues to divide the kindred tribes of CCpur.
It may be noted that while the KSO consider the district hqs to be the designated location of ZSF and the three tribal bodies feel it was unsafe for other communities to venture in the area favour by the other due to the prevailing lawlessness in the locality and its proximity with armed elements.