Anti-Sadar Hills rally on Nov 17
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10 2011:
The Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills District (CACSD) is set to stage a silent public rally on November 17 to denounce the recent MoU between the State Government and Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee.
CACSD also appealed to all the people irrespective of different communities to extend the maximum cooperation and support towards the genuine demand of Zeliangrong people and to participate in the public rally.
The Committee said that the MoU has agreed in principle to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district by creating new three sub divisions in addition to the existing three sub-divisions.
The Zeliangrong people's demand for merging their lands to Tamenglong district before entering into any agreement has been neglected by the State Government, CACSD said.
CACSD said that State Government's effort to appease the Kukis with the signing of an MoU would never satisfy them.
Reacting to former Minister C Doungel's statement regarding Kukis residing in Tamenglong district and in other hills districts, CACSD said that the 'never satisfied' nature of Kukis has become crystal clear with the statement.
Kukis would demand further even if the entire State territory is handed over to them, CACSD alleged.
It further said that the Zeliangrong people's demand for restoration of their lands to Tamenglong district is officially agreed and approved by the Centre and the State Government in the past based on historical background and evidences and as such any comment on the contrary is not advisable.
The Kukis came and settled in Tamenglong district within the land permitted and allotted by the Zeliangrong people on the condition for specific amount of tax payment in return whereas the Zeliangrong people have been made to live in scattered areas in the hill districts after bifurcating land from Tamenglong district, CACSD added.
The Zeliangrong people will never compromise the long demand to restore their land to Tamenglong district for peace and development as such the people movement against the creation of any districts without first materialising the already agreed and approved merger issue will move forward with intense movement till our demand is realised, CACSD added.
It further said that the Govt of Manipur has entered an agreement with Jiribam District Demand Committee and Sadar Hills District Demand Committee, therefore, the reason to further delay the already agreed merger of Zeliangrong areas of different hills districts to Tamenglong district is unjustified.