Bodies caution Government on Sadar Hills issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 17 2011: Iterating its firm stance of opposing creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts at the cost of Zeliangrong land, Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) has urged groups/bodies concerned to immediately withdraw all forms of strikes and blockades in this regard in the spirit of promoting communal harmony and peaceful co-existence.

In a press release issued by its Chairman Thomas Kamei, Zeliangrong Baudi claimed that Sadar Hills is the original ancestral territory of Zeliangrong people.

Maintaining that Sadar Hills has been flooded by immigrants, Zeliangrong Baudi contended that the immigrants have seriously disturbed the indigenous environment of the area to the extent of communal unrest and bringing misery to the hosts.

With regard to demand for Jiribam district, the Baudi made it clear that it does not oppose the demand but would resist any move/plan to break even an inch of Zeliangrong land for the creation of Jiribam district.

Zeliangrong Baudi also expressed suspicion of playing 'communal expansionist policy' with the issue by the State Government.

The body questioned how the State Government has become so soft and weak and remained a mere spectator in the midst of killing people and burning down properties and offices.

On the otherhand, Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) urged the State Government not to cow down to the pressure mounted by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee and other bodies without considering the background and ground reality of the issue.

Saying that such pressure would incite communal disharmony amongst the hills people, ZYF urged the State Government not to take any decision which may disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

ZYF in a release said, the State Government must first comply to the directive of the Union Home Minister, Vide DO No 9/15/89/CD/CEN dt 14/5/1990 regarding merger of Zeliangrong inhabited areas of Senapati and Churachandpur district to Tamenglong district instead of attempting to declare Sadar Hills district as a full fledged district.

It added that the direction was made following Zeliangrong people's persistent demand for merger of Zeliangrong areas since 1933 when Zeliangrong people were divided and scattered with the creation of the Sadar Sub-Division out of the North West Sub-Division.

Informing that there are about 50 Zeliangrong villages in Senapati district including many in Sadar Hills and about 20 villages in Churachandpur district, ZSF said this fact must not be taken lightly by the Government.

Following the directive of the Union Home Ministry, the Deputy Commissioners of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts had already submitted relevant reports to the State Government in this regard, but this has been left in dark till date, ZYF added.

It further said that State Government's helplessness and inability to control an agitation which is being staged on a short distance of about 20 km along NH-2 (erstwhile NH-39) speaks volume about the attitude of the Government.

The Government should know that the maximum area of land are covered by Zeliangrong people and other Naga communities in Sadar Hills and if conceded to the demand of the agitators without consent of the Zeliangrong people and other Naga communities living in Sadar Hills it will be the gravest mistake and construed as preplanned one with the agitators.

The Zeliangrong people have already expressed strong opposition to the creation of Sadar Hills or any district by slicing off parts of Zeliangrong land.

The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) strongly opposed some organisations propagating for creation of Sadar Hills district for the purpose and on the pretext of administrative convenience.

If at all for administrative purposes, what is the intention and why Jiribam, which is situated after covering more than 200 km distance within Tamenglong district is administered by Imphal East District? .

The State Government should know that any immature decision would be a wrong tick which may lead to explosion of communal disharmony.

The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) as already done in the past is ready to contribute maximum for the cause of protection of our ancestral land.

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