Manipuris in Assam demand autonomy
Source: The Sangai Express / Times News Network
Guwahati, December 21 2015:
With the Assembly election round the corner, the Manipuris of Assam are stepping up their demand for an autonomous council.
The Manipuri National Council (MNC), representing the community in the State, had staged a demonstration at Dispur Last Gate when the winter Assembly session was on.
The community is demanding the autonomous body to protect and preserve its social, political and cultural rights.
The MNC has been demanding that the existing Manipuri Development Council (MDC) be upgraded to Manipuri Autonomous Council (MAC) through a legislation by the Assembly.
The council is demanding this to secure the overall social, cultural, political and economic development of the community, said MNC president N Babu Singha.
MNC said that despite MDC's existence for the last five years, it has not been able to address the development aspirations of the community.
The budget allocation for MDC is insufficient to cater to the needs of over 5 lakh Manipuri population in the 13 districts of the State, it alleged.
MNC members alleged that the State Government has not provided enough infrastructural, institutional and budgetary allocations for the all-round development of the community.
Also there is no representation from the community in the state assembly, Singha said.
He added that MNC has also been demanding reservation of three seats in the proposed Upper House of the Assembly and delimitation of Manipuri-inhabited constituencies like Lakhipur, Sonai, Hailakandi and Hojai to ensure political representation in the legislative Assembly.
MNC said the State should also take serious steps to preserve areas that were of historical significance and depict the relations between Ahom and Manipuri kingdoms, including Mithapukhuri in Sivasagar, Manipuri Rajbari in Guwahati and Pratapgarh Pukhuri in Karimganj.