Hundreds rally for better road
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 28 2013:
Hundreds of people today took out a protest rally demanding black-topping of Imphal-Saikul road at the earliest.
The protest rally which was jointly organised by Kuki Inpi Saikul, KSO Saikul, Women Union Saikul and Saikul Hill started from Jhangtong Govt Higher Secondary School, Thangkanphai.
The rally was participated by more than a thousand people belonging to different communities.
The rally was terminated after submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister through Saikul SDO DK Thangboi.
The protesters carried placards which read "Don't we deserve a dust and mud free road", "Mr CM, endurance have limits", "We want assurance for justice on Saikul roads" etc.
Addressing a public meeting held before the rally, Kuki Inpi Saikul block president Thangkam Lupheng said that Saikul TD Block was created by the Government in 1969 for people's welfare and better administration.
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Though it has been almost 40 years since the TD block was created, people of the area have been travelling on dusty roads during dry season and again on muddy and sloughy roads during rainy season.
Even though Imphal-Saikul is a crucial link for four Assembly segments of Khundrakpam, Saikul, Karong and Ukhrul, it remains questionable whether the road is deliberately neglected or the people living along the road are being discriminated, Thangkam said.
When this just 35 Kms long is lying in a deplorable condition for the past many decades, Chief Minister O Ibobi has been repeatedly claiming that his Government is equally concerned for development of both the hills and valley.
Given such contradictory ground reality, it appears that the Chief Minister's claims are just empty words.
Today's protest rally was aimed highlighting the woes endured by people for the past many decades because of the shabby Imphal-Saikul road.
In case the Government refuses to pay attention to this genuine demand of the people, intense modes of agitation would be launched and for any untoward incident arising out of the agitation, the Government should be held accountable, Thangkam asserted.
"This does not mean we are against the Government.
We are only demanding our rights", he added.
The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister urged for immediate black-topping of the 26 Kms long Liklikhong-Molkon section of Imphal-Saikul road.