AMTDGF urged to withdraw stir; 6 arrested
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 03 2022: Apart from appealing to All Manipur Tribals' Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) to withdraw its economic blockade call and settle the matter and grievances through the dialogue process, transport minister Khashim Vashum held discussion with officials concerned to neutralise impact of the Forum's agitation, which will begin from November 3 midnight.

A meeting chaired by the minister and attended by top officials of police, transport, RD & PR and finance departments thoroughly discussed the economic blockade being called by AMTDGF.

Interacting with media persons after the meeting, minister Khashim said that since 2017 the BJP government led by chief minister N Biren Singh has been working towards ensuring a peaceful and new Manipur with special attention on putting an end to the bandh/blockade culture.

While pointing out that people from different parts of India and abroad would be visiting the state to attend the Manipur Sangai Festival-2022, the minister expressed serious resent ment that the AMTDGF has called an indefinite economic along the two key national highways of the state amidst hectic preparations made for the tourism festival.

According to Khashim Vashum, the state government is working towards releasing backlog fund of MGNREGS and Rs 100 crore had already been released in June.

The government is also trying to release another Rs 140 crore and the process for the same is underway at the state treasury while the remaining Rs 500 crore would be released before the end of the current financial year, he said and appealed to AMTDGF to withdraw the economic blockade.

He also offered to hold talk with AMTDGF and discuss their grievances through dialogue.

Minister Khashim Vashum further said that the BJP government has been working towards ensuring a bandh/blockade free Manipur and it would be better for the agitating group to hold talk with the government to discuss their grievances.

On a query as to what step government would take up if MTDGF went ahead with the blockade, Khashim Vashum said that the government has been appealing to withdraw blockade and trying to negotiate with AMTDGF.

So, the government may take up legal action if the blockade is not lifted despite the appeal and negotiation attempt.

ADGP Kailun, who also attended the meeting, told media persons that imposing bandh and blockade by some people by sending out a statement must be taken seriously by the people and media houses should also verify such people before publishing the news.

Bandh/blockade not only violates right of the people but also causes suffering to entire sections of the society, he said, adding that the police department will provide security to ensure that vehicular traffic continues as usual along the national highways and tackle those imposing the blockade effectively.

So far, six people involved in imposition of economic blockade have been arrested, he added.

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