Forum resents CM's 'illegal' organisation remarks
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 08 2022:
All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) expressed strong resentment over the chief minister's remarks that the Forum is an illegal organisation.
In a release, AMTDGF protested that chief minister N Biren was rebuking the forum and calling it "illegal, meaningless and unreasonable organisation" in the media "instead of looking into the matter seriously on the genuine issue".
The Forum clarified that it had never stated misappropriation of MGNREGA funds by the state government but raised the demand for release of the MGNREGA funds to all 16 districts of Manipur (both hills and valleys) which were sanctioned by the central government on June 23, 2022, and clearance of "outstanding wages, material components and liabilities pending".
AMTDGF further explained that the intention of the forum was to pressure the state government to release funds under MGNREGA to all registered job card holders of Manipur, and it had never intended to impose economic blockade along the National Highways in the state.
The state government was unyielding to the AMTDGF's demand which compelled it to impose the economic blockade along the national highways on midnight of November 3, it added.
AMTDGF then termed as 'very unfortunate' that Naga People's Organisation (NPO), Senapati, Northern Maram People's Organisation, Senapati, Khoupum Area Villages Authority Council (KAVAC) and Kuki Chief's Association, Tengnoupal district did not support the agitation in the cause for registered job card holders under MGNREGA.
In the meantime, the forum thanked "right thinking citizens and expert panellists of Manipur" for their support to the forum in its endeavour to uphold interest and sentiment of the registered job card holders.
It then appealed to the state government to release the remaining MGNREGA fund which was already sanctioned by the central government as per its assurance, while urging the government to stop "witch hunting of AMTDGF executive and withdraw all the pending cases with immediate effects or else the forum shall be compelled to launch another intense agitation against the state government" .