Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 12 2009:
Obviously frustrated due to alleged Government apathy to the continuous demand for holding Autonomous District council (ADC) elections, the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has decided to enforce a 12 hour bandh in the five hill districts on July 17 which will be followed by other form of intense agitation, including closure of Government institutions from July 28 onward.
Announcing the series of agitation at Manipur Press Club today, IDF general secretary P thumpee said after the Parliament of India, in 1971, approved hill areas administration, ADC polls used to be conducted at regular intervals.
However, from 1984 till date ADC polls have not been entertained by successive Governments of the State consequently resulting in development funds being extended by the Centre not utilised in an efficient manner thereby depriving people of the hill areas from reaping fruit of development, the secretary claimed.
Pointing to Article 371 of the Constitution of India that enshrines conduct of polls including that of ADCs, Thumpee alleged that successive State governments had been denying people of the hill districts from savouring the real flavour of a democratic country.
Such indifferent attitude of the State Government tantamount to abrogation of the Indian Constitution, he expressed while describing as unfortunate the State Government's continuous defiance to sustained intimation for conducting the ADC polls.
Insisting that in denunciation of the State's indifferent attitude to sentiment of the hill people the IDF had launched poster campaigns throughout the five hill districts since July 10, Thumpee maintained that as such democratic movement failed to evoke positive response from the State government the IDF will enforce hill district bandh from 6 am of July 17 .
While announcing exemption of health, education, water supply and power sectors from the purview of the bandh, he further declared that in case the Government still remain static on the ADC election issue further course of intense agitation would be launched for an indefinite period.
The IDF secretary also cautioned that any untoward incident as a consequence of the agitation programmes should be the responsibility of the Government.