MDA urges Centre to resolve border row
Governor assures to apprise govt for designating protest site: Co-convener
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Imphal, September 09 2021: Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA), a conglomerate of nine political parties, has drawn attention of the Centre in resolving the dispute along the international border with Myanmar.

In its memorandums submitted to the Prime Minister and the Union home minister, the MDA sought their intervention to resolve the dispute, particularly the recent fresh row at the border pillar no.81.In the memorandums, the MDA stated that on several occasions, there were numerous reports of encroachment by the Myanmar government into India's territory in Manipur sector of the border belt.

Even personnel from the Surveyor of India came way back in 2015 and inspected the disputed area but left without any development on that matter, the MDA rued.

Recently, the Myanmar authorities encroached near pillar no.81 which was strongly protested by the locals as well as the rest of the people of Manipur, it said.

The incidents were quite frequent and kilometres upon kilometres of Indian Territory is systematically being usurped by them (Myanmar), contended the alliance.

Expressing grave concern over frequent incursion by the neighbouring country into the Manipur sector of the international boundary MDA urged the Centre to do the needful to precise demarcation of the Indo-Myanmar boundary line to avoid cropping of unwanted issues in the future.

Meanwhile, MDA chairman Bijoy Koijam along with eight members met Governor La Ganesan on Thursday and submitted a memorandum highlighting the demand for assigning the southern part of Shaheed Minar, Pologround as designated protest site of the state.

Speaking to media persons after meeting the Governor, MDA co-convener K Khogendro stated that they are happy of getting a positive response from the Governor on the demand.

Khogendro informed during the meeting, the team apprised the Governor about the need to have a designated protest site in a democracy like India.

In Delhi, any organisation or individual can stage protest at Jantar Mantar for raising their demands.

Manipur too requires such a place for people to organise democratic protest.

So, the Governor was requested for assigning the southern part of Shaheed Minar, Pologround as designated protest site of the state, he added.

Khogendro continued that the Governor after listening to them assured that he will see what the government can do on the issue.

They are confident that the positive response of the Governor will ensure that a designated protest site will soon be notified, he further said.

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