Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 30 2010:
The Kabui Mother's Association (KAMA) Manipur today announced that they have decided to impose general strike on the day UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi visit in the state.
President of KAMA, Kakomlunglu Kameipui, addressing a press conference today at the office of Zeliangrong Union Manipur at Khakhulong, said that they have decided call the general strike as Chief Minister, O Ibobi failed to give a positive response to the demand of the KAMA, reservation of seats of 200 vendors for the womenfolk of Kabui (Zeliangrong) communities) in the newly construct three market sheds at Khwairamband Bazar which is scheduled to inaugurate by Sonia Gandhi.
Mention may be made that KAMa had drawn attention of the Chief Minister on the matter when they submitted a memorandum to him on October 25 last.
They had also warned of calling general strike on the inauguration day of the market complex if the government fail to consider their demand terming it as "legitimate" one.
She said that KAMA made the demand when they learnt that not a single seat was allotted to Kabui women vendors even as the market shed for the women has even expanded with an objective to felicitate avenues for self employment and to provide earning opportunity for the womenfolk of the state.
She justified their demand stating that Kubui is a community having second largest population in the state and there are many Kabui villages within the Imphal Municipal areas.
The community is also directly bore the grunt of all types in every eventuality that occurred in the state.
Giving priority and first preference or opportunity to the people who suffered the most is a natural justice, she lamented.
Manipur being the multi-ethnic state where various communities are residing since time immemorial, therefore, in the context vis-�-vis especially the present juncture accommodating a single community in a particular place or complex in one hand and to be mingled/ shared by various communities in another place would be irrelevant as well as illogical, she observed.
As no positive response comes up from the Chief Minister or government side, they would impose general strike in collaboration with other like minded social organisations on the inauguration day of the market complex by Sonia Gandhi, she reiterated.