Rally demands native CS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 17 2018: Various student organizations, both from the hill districts and valley districts of Manipur, carried out a protest rally today on the streets of Imphal demanding the appointment of 'native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur' .

The rally christened "Peaceful rally demanding the appointment of native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur" was organized jointly by All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS).

All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) also took part in the protest rally.

Thousands of students marched from Adimjati School area and passed through Khongnang Ani Karak and then marched towards Khoyathong through North AOC.

The students then gathered at THAU Ground where they held a public meeting.

Salam Aakash, president of DESAM, read out the rally declaration demanding the appointment of a native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur.

ATSUM president Vareiyo Shatsang, DESAM president Salam Aakash and ATMS secretary general Somorjit Huidrom were among the signatories of the joint declaration of the rally.

"The historic union of student bodies of the hills and valley on the issue of the Chief Secretary is a movement against the legacy of neo-colonialism and discrimination," said the rally declaration.

Rally demands native CS

"It is for the better governance of the present and future Manipur that the issue of the ill-conceived demoralization of native IAS officers is being raised to justify that there is no dearth of potentiality from amongst the native officers," the rally declaration added.

According to the rally declaration, "while the movement for equality is gaining momentum and the bond of brotherhood strengthened, the Government is expected to listen to the voice of the people as the voice of the people is supreme" .

It added, "Further, strengthening the historic slogan 'Go to Hills' we, the students under ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS reiterate our slogan 'Chief Secretary by the native' and for the native people" .

The rally declaration said, "In doing so, the Government of Manipur is given ample time to concretize the issue within the month of April, 2018 for appointment of Chief Secretary" .

Over three thousand students from various schools, colleges and institutions participated in today's rally.

Addressing the public, ATSUM president Vareiyo Shatsang compared the trend as the measures of neo-colonialism employed by the British.

The ATSUM leader said there are enough number of qualified native officers for the post of Chief Secretary.

"Today's rally is a historic moment with student organizations from the hills and the valley coming together to fight for the common issue", Vareiyo stated.

ANSAM former president Seth Shatsang lauded the students for participating in the rally which was "to protect our right".

Salam Aakash, president of DESAM said that they had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren on April 8 demanding the appointment of a native IAS officer as the Chief Secretary of Manipur.

"However, the Government did not pay heed," he rued.

Later, the student bodies submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging the Government to consider their demand "in the right earnest in , the larger interest of all communities living in the State of Manipur.

"The All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (ATMS) would like to state the fact that there have been several unfair, discriminatory and hurtful decisions taken by the Government in the recent past and in doing so a deep chasm of social uneasiness was created between the valley and the hill people," the memorandum said.

According to the memorandum, the hills were left out in development, the tribal people's grievances unheard and ignored.

"They were made like second class citizens in their own State.

Now the situation has started changing with the coming to power of the BJP Government in Manipur but it needs further reinforcing and consolidation".

The memorandum stated that the State Govt has embarked on a new course of equitable and fair development.

"The Chief Minister has travelled to the hill districts under the mission 'Go to the Hills' and met various tribal communities under the slogan 'Ching Tarn Amatani' and shared the vision, hope and aspirations and in doing so the Government has touched the right chord", it also stated.

"They now feel closer to the Government than ever before.

But one decision which has caused deep anguish and distress remains unaddressed.

It is the feeling of being shunned and unwanted.

This wound is still opened, untreated and has not healed," the memorandum added.

The memorandum to the CM said, "The BJP Government under your leadership has picked up the theme of unity -Chingtam Amatani" .

It added, "It was ill-advised when it first came to power in Manipur to follow the bad precedence set by the previous Government by appointing a junior officer and ignoring a senior and a native officer to the post of the Chief Secretary.

"The ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS and many other right thinking organizations would endorse the view that an opportunity has been thrown on the Government now to set things right as the post of Chief Secretary remains vacant.

"It is our prayer and demand that a local IAS officer in the State cadre be given an opportunity to serve the people of the State.

This move will translate the mission 'Go to the Hills' and slogan 'Ching Tam Amatani' into action and dispel the general belief that has crept into the minds of the people that Govt of Manipur does not favor the tribals for any top posts in the State Govt given the recent history of bypassing them", the memorandum also said.

"In doing so, the Govt of Manipur is given ample time to concretize the issue within the month of April, 2018 for appointment of the State's Secretary," it added.