COPTAM sticks to no Panchayat poll in Hill areas
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06, 2012:
Reiterating its stand that no panchayat poll be held in areas covered by ADC, the Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has today reaffirmed that no Panchayat elections should be held in hill areas of the State.
Addressing reporters today at Saikul Hill Town Office, Saikul, Chairman of COPTAM, Letpu Haokip said his organisation is sticking to its earlier stand that no panchayat election be held in the hill areas where ADC elections were held.
Stating that no one from areas covered by ADC would be allowed to contest or cast their vote in the upcoming panchayat elections to be held on September 13, Letpu Haokip said all election activities in the said areas would not be allowed to take place.
He said that before the restoration of ADC, the people in the said areas had participated in the panchayat election.
However, with the restoration of ADC, the people have now chosen to remain under the ADC administration.
Endorsing the move of Nepali/Gorkha community of the State who intimated the State Government that they prefer to remain under the ADC administration, the CoPTAM president urged the State Government to immediately respond to the aspiration positively.
Speaking at the press meet, Dhamraj Raj, a representative of over five Nepali villages in Saikul area said five of the Nepali villages in the area, Aisan, Molkon, Hangoipat, Makeng and Mutakhong villages have participated in the panchayat elections.
However, the villagers could not reap any development for the area in the process.
As such the Nepali villagers are now prefering to remain under the hill administration, Dhamraj said.
Justifying the demand, he added that the said Nepali villagers would stay away from the coming panchayat elections.
Meanwhile, the chiefs and villagers of Vaiphei tribe under 9/15 Phowaibi polling station under Ningel Leirongthel GP have decided not to cast vote in the upcoming Gram Panchayat election as the said polling station is included in 46 ST Saikul AC and Bongbal Khullen DCC.
This was decided during the Vaiphei People's Council (Eastern Block) general meeting held on August 3 at Mantripukhri Vaiphei Veng, said a statement issued by the president and secretary of VPC (Eastern Block).
Vaiphei villages under 9/15 Phowaibi Polling Station included Phowaibi, Phailengjang, Haukhongching, Th Salemphai, B Phainom, S Kanan, Nongpok Centre, Nongpok Phaijang, Phainom, Sialhau Vaiphei, Nongmaiching Tampak/Haukhongphai.