Public meeting on Sadar Hills with MLAs, MDCs mooted
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, September 15 2014: A public meeting on the Sadar Hills issue organized by Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills today at Gamnom Saparmeina Community Hall resolved to have another round of meeting with elected MLAs and MDCs from Sadar Hills to take a final decision on the issue.

The meeting was attended by various civil organization leaders including Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association president Tongpu Kipgen, president of Kuki Women Union Manipur Rose Mangshi, Chairman of Kuki Organization for Human Rights Dr T Lunkim apart from the block-wise Kuki Inpi leaders, various village chiefs, block-wise women union and local civil bodies.

Lunthang Haokip, MDC Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council was the lone MDC who attended the public meeting while the three Congress MLAs from Sadar Hills and other elected MDCs failed to attend the meeting.

Public meeting underway to discuss Sadar Hills

Former leaders of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee who had signed an MoU with the State Government on October 31 midnight, 2011 also failed to attend the meeting.

While highlighting the factors and reasons for discontentment of Sadar Hills people before the public discussion took place, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills General Secretary N Sehjalien Gangte said that creation of Sadar Hills is the outcome of an Act of Parliament called Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act of 1971 .

He further asserted that the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947 had clearly provided separate administration for the hill people of the State while adding that the Northeast (Re-Organization) Act, 1971 and other major and minor Acts of the Constitution provide for administration under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

The KISH general secretary further lamented that refusing to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district is an implication of deprivation of economic development, social upliftment and political growth.

"Denying our fundamental rights for 40 years is aimed at infusing communal hatred and subduing the interests of the citizens of Sadar Hills", asserted N Sehjalien Gangte while highlighting the various incidents of suppressions and sufferings which happened during the 40 years of agitation on the issue as well as the chronology of failed assurances by successive State Governments from 1974 till date.

"As our legitimate demand for creation of Sadar Hills is being continuously denied and cleverly delayed for more than 40 years the people of Sadar Hills now are compelled to fight with whatever resources we have", declared Gangte.

"Why and how the Parliament Act has been ignored and delayed for so long", wondered Tongpu Kipgen, president SAHILCA while adding that the Parliament Act has become a mockery since it has been ignored and delayed for so long.

It is better that the Act be withdrawn on the part of the Central Government asserted the SAHILCA supremo.

Reposing faith in the Modi led NDA Government, Kuki Women Union president Rose Mangshi opined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have a liberal thought on Sadar Hills issue if deliberately discussed with.

Lunthang Haokip, MDC said that district boundary issue had already been finalized during the Nipamacha Government and it should be followed while rejecting the MoU signed on midnight of October 31, 2011 between the SHDDC and the State Government which stated that Sadar Hills would be declared a full-fledged district at the earliest after District Re-Organization Committee submits its report.

Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills president Seikhomang Khongsai, after the public discussion, maintained that with the three Congress MLAs from Sadar Hills and elected MDCs not in attendance in the public meeting, it has been resolved according to the public wish that another round of public meeting will be organized at Saikul sooner or later to take a final resolution on the issue in the presence of the three Congress MLAs of Sadar Hills and elected MDCs.

He continued that the schedule for the next round of public meeting would be intimated very soon while urging the people of Sadar Hills to stand solidly and extend their cooperation.