Anti-blockade call
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11 2011:
Keishamthong Humanitarian Development Committee has announced its decision of launching a mass sit-in-protest at different parts of Keishamthong Assembly Constituency from August 22 until withdrawal of the economic blockade being imposed along the National Highways over the demand for upgrading Sadar hills to a full-fledged district.
Talking to mediaper-sons, patron member of the Committee RK Shiva explained that the mass sit-in-protest would be carried out in a democratic manner to appeal for lifting of the economic blockade and would continue till lifting of the blockade.
Preventing transporting of goods including essential food items and life saving drugs have caused untold miseries among the common people.
If blockade is to be resorted for every issues, how the common people are supposed to live, Shiva wondered, while appealing to the proponents of Sadar hills district to lift economic blockade and take up some other form of agitation to press the demand.
This, however, does meant that the Committee is opposed to the demand for Sadar hills, Shiva clarified, and pointed out that economic blockade is not resorted to even during the times of war.
Shiva demanded that the Government should also do the needful without testing the tolerance limit of the people.
Furthermore, Shiva informed that alongside the proposed mass sit-in-protest, a human chain would be formed and take out a march from Pallel to Moreh to spread the message that Imphal-Moreh road, which is the eastern corridor is still open even if the two National Highways running through the State have been blocked.
Executive member of TDC Y Lokeshore, who was also present at the occasion, observed that setting vehicles on fire and attacking poor drivers would not ensure fulfilment of the demand and the proponents of the Sadar hills district demand should not try to incite communal tension.
Government should also try to the resolve the issue at the earliest possible, Lokeshore demanded.