Convention on politics of blockade held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2017:
Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) and League of Indigenous Peoples' Upliftment (LIPUL) organised a people's convention under the theme 'People and Election- Politicisation of Economic Blockade as a part of the Election Campaign Culture' at GM Hall today.
Senior Citizen for Society Manipur general secretary Laishram Sadananda, State Vision Document convenor Dr RK Ranjan, MPCC spokesperson Sarangthem Manaobi, Manipur Human Rights Commission e member RK Rajendro, Impact TV chief editor Yumnam Rupachandra and many other eminent personalities took part in the convention.
Speaking at the event, Y Rupachandra said, "All the politicians are rushing in to take advantage of the current situation of the State.
But a true leader is one who takes swift action to ease the suffering of the people" .
He pointed out that the people often forget they were responsible for electing the same leaders whom they loathe.
"It is really unfortunate that the State Government has utterly failed to safeguard the well being of its people and instead is trying to shift the blame to a particular group or body.
Politics alone cannot bring a solution to the economic blockade", he said.
MPCC spokesperson Sarangthem Manaobi alleged that there were powerful hidden forces behind the UNC's economic blockade.
He said, "The Central Government's decision to send Central Paramilitary forces in order to contain the situation is no different than telling us to finish each other off.
The State Government is reluctant to use force against the economic blockade supporters".
He accused the Central Govt of keeping mum despite the possibility that the economic blockade might be lifted if it intervened.
The participants at the convention expressed disappointment at the State and Central Government for failing to bring a solution to the blockade issue despite it being in effect for nearly two months now.They also condemned the politicisation of the issue for the coming Assembly election.
The participants further agreed to organise another convention at a different venue at the earliest and urged the State and Central Government to bring a swift solution.