NCP, JD (U) take Govt to task over Sadar Hills demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2011: Contending that the demand for Sadar hills district is not to disintegrate Manipur, Opposition leader and president of NCP State unit Radhabinod Koijam has observed that sidelining the over 40 years demand would not bring any good result and the Government should bring about a final resolution at the soonest possible.

On the other hand, Janta Dal (United), Manipur State unit has questioned why there should be any delay on the part of the Government in granting district status to Sadar Hills if it actually feels that upgradation of Sadar Hills into a full-fledged district would help not only in the administration but also in taking up welfare programmes of the people.

Speaking at the occasion of inaugurating a newly constructed community hall at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai today, Radhabinod observed that resolution over the demand for upgradation of Sadar Hills into a revenue district may not be an easy task considering the history and sentiments involved.

But it is high time to discuss the issue serious at the level of the political parties and the communities if at all the issue is to be resolved.

Naga community also need to relax their stand and talk with other communities, and the Government should not keep aside the issue, Radhabinod said, adding that from its side, NCP would also extend every possible support towards finding an amicable solution.

The demand for Sadar Hills district is not to disintegrate Manipur nor Sadar hills is a place inhabited by Kuki community alone.

Considering all these aspects, it is high time to bring about a peaceful resolution of the demand, Radhabinod observed.

With the problem of insurgency on one hand and frequent agitations of the civil societies on the other, Manipur has been reduced to a State where peace and development have remained elusive and developmental fund could not be utilised even upto 40 percent, the Opposition leader expressed concern.

On the other hand, addressing a press conference at its office here today, president of State unit JD (U) M Tombi has questioned whether the Govt has any hidden agenda over its delay in granting district status to Sadar hills if it actually feels that such a demand for the administrative convenience and it would help in proper implementation of welfare programmes of the people.

Tombi asserted that the noted that the current impasse over the demand for Sadar hills district is nothing about the outcome of the assurances given by the successive Governments in the past.

If the present Government could not take a definite decision over the issue, then a meeting of all political parties should be convened for arriving at a solution.

Why the Government has not done anything in this regard ?, he questioned.

If the demand could not be granted within August 15 and the ADC members went ahead with their decision of resigning from their respective posts, the Government should be held responsible for any administrative failure, he warned.

Tombi went on to say that if the Government is taking time over demarcation of the disputed boundary as granting district status without resolution of the boundary dispute would be problematic in future, then the agitating Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee should be taken into confidence.

Tombi lamented that the Government has not taken up any step to control the price of essential commodities which have escalated following the ongoing economic blockade/bandh.

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