Bandhs, strikes have potential to scrap Act East Policy: RK Shivchandra
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2018: Frequent bandhs and strikes in the State especially along the National Highways have serious toll on the border trade at Moreh.

After Indo-Myanmar land route was opened to facilitate trade and transport between the neighbours, the frequent blockade of the Imphal-Moreh road have the potential to hamper the Act East Policy.

This may result in setting up of border trade centre in Mizoram, asserted RK Shivchandra, convenor of Act East Policy Committee.

"After, the Indo-Myanmar border land route was opened on August 8, 2018, there have been a number of developments taking place in the trade and other sectors.

All this developments which will benefit people on both sides of the country, especially people of Manipur in Indian context in terms of trade economy, will be crippled if the rampant of bandhs and strikes continue," Shivchandra said speaking to The Sangai Express today.

He informed that on behalf of the State, following direction of the Chief Minister, the committee had invited Chief Ministers of Mandalay and Sagaing to attend the Sangai Festival this year.

He continued that the Chief Minister of Mandalay Dr Zaw Myint Maung has assured his presence along with a girls' football team and a cultural troupe at the Sangai Festival 2018.The committee met the Mandalay Chief Minister in person, he said and added that the Chief Minister of Sagaing Myint Naing has also accepted the invitation.

A girls' football team of Sagaing region will also participate in the Sangai festival, he said.

The two teams are likely to play matches against State team on November 25 and 26 at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium to mark the festival and promote friendship and sports, he said.

Speaking of trade between the two countries at the border, Shivchandra said that the place for establishment of Tamu and Moreh border trade centres are not yet decidedijy the two countries.

Claiming that Mizoram Government too is trying its best to establish and improve trade with Myanmar, Shivchandra said that it is high time for the people of Manipur to ponder and shun all bandhs and strikes which have the potential to scrap the trade relation and destroy whole of the Act East Policy.

"If this trend of bandhs continue, the border trade centre might go someplace else," he said and continued that traders/people of Myanmar have serious concerns about the frequent bandhs in Manipur which affect them.

"Manipur is not the only State that has land route which connects Myanmar.

Phek district in Nagaland too has a land route that connects Myanmar.

If the habit of imposing bandhs are not shunned, then automatically people of Myanmar would find other routes to travel and do business," he said.

Recalling the opening of land route in August, he said that there was a bandh in the border town.

"Myanmar delegates were not able to even have their lunch at Hotel Elora.

Supporters of the bandh were burning tyres and other things on roads while Myanmar people just across the border were burning fire crackers celebrating opening of the land route," he said.

He appealed people of the State to avoid bandh and save the Act East Policy which holds future of the State and the Nation.

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