MPCC refutes statement on prohibition of sit-in-protest at Soibam Lampak
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 12 2017: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee member P Saratchandra Sharma has strongly reacted against the statement made by local organisations that a sit-in-protest that was supposed to be held at Laipham Khunou Maning Leikai's Soibam Lampak was prevented as no prior permission was sought from the local authorities .

He was referring to a joint statement made by the Laipham Khunou Youth Development Association (LKDA), Social Development Club (SDC), Laipham Khunou and local womenfolk through local media on the issue .

While speaking to mediapersons at the Manipur Press Club today, the former Heingang A/C candidate claimed that not only himself but also the Heingang Block Congress Committee was surprised with the statement made by the LKDA, SDC and womenfolk in local media as the committee had taken the permission from the LKDA.

The committee had as well received a receipt of Rs 1000 from the LKDA for hiring the community hall located at Soibam Lampak .

He also said that the LKDA had given the consent to organise the sit-in-protest to the Heingang Block Congress Committee confirming there would not be any kind of disagreement regarding the staging of sit-in-protest .

The LKDA even claimed that it was the sole authority for granting permission to host any event at the community hall, Saratchandra said .

He alleged that one Lai-renjam Nabachandra of Laipham Khunou and Nongthombam Borot of Luwangshangbam whom he identified as the elder brother and a worker for Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren respectively had arrived on the day when the protest was about to begin and prevented the gathering to stage the sit-in-protest saying the issue of Framework Agreement cannot be advocated in the Heingang A/C .

Further, N Borot and L Nabachandra claimed that the community hall was constructed by CM Biren, and threatened the organisers that the Heingang Block Congress Committee should take responsibility if any unwanted incident happened, and then they asked the protestors to leave, P Saratchandra said .

Hence, the statement made by the LKDA, SDC and womenfolk that the prohibition of the sit-in-protest at Soibam Lampak had no connection with the BJP was contradictory, he added while maintaining that he had no enmity with the members of LKDA and locals of Laipham Khunou .

Necessary permission for conducting the sit-in-protest using loudspeakers was also taken from Imphal East DC and OC days before the sit-in-protest was scheduled, he informed the press meet.

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