Demand for Sadar Hills district echoes in Chandel
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09 2011:
Maintaining that the agitation being undertaken by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee for conversion of Sadar Hills to a full fledged district is justified, the Kuki People's Forum (KPF) Chandel has pledged support to any movement aimed at realising the long standing demand.
Speaking to media persons at Hotel Kristina at Polo Ground here today, KPF spokesperson Robert Gangte lamented that the demand for upgrading Sadar Hills to the status of a district which dates back to 1971 is being kept in abeyance by successive Governments.
The demand is not about Kuki homeland or something like greater Nagaland.
The demand is for a district within the State of Manipur, Robert said.
Maintaining that the demand for Sadar Hills district is justified, Robert Gangte said that the demand is not in the interest of Kuki community alone but in the interest of all the communities of Sadar Hills.
Taking strong exception to the objection raised by the Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) and the United Naga Council (UNC), the spokesperson asserted that the demand is being made to the Government of Manipur, not to SDSA or UNC.
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The prerogative of fulfilling the demand lies with the Government, not with UNC or SDSA, he said.
The spokesperson appealed for support to the justified demand rather than opposing it.
He went on to allege that the hardships being suffered by the people and destruction of properties resulting from the ongoing agitation are all the makings of the incumbent deaf and blind Congress-led SPF Government.
In case the Government fails to make necessary arrangements for resolving the burning issue at the earliest, mass movements similar to the ongoing one would be launched in all Kuki inhabited areas of the State.
In addition, Imphal-Moreh route would also be blocked indefinitely, Robert Gangte warned.
In the same vein, the Chiefs' Association, Chandel has already declared the ongoing agitation as justified.
They have also pledged support to any agitation that may be launched by the SHDDC for the cause of Sadar Hills district.