MLA Ranjit vows to push for debate on crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, February 11 2024: Sugnu MLA and deputy leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Kangujam Ranjit Singh confided that he is prepared to raise different issues including chief minister N Biren Singh's inability to resolve the more than nine months violence in the state assembly session scheduled to commence from February 28 .

Stating that he ashamed of being an MLA during the tenure of CM Biren Singh, Ranjit contended that the state government not only failed to control the violence during the initial phase which led to destruction of properties of innocent people but also let free hand in the hills contrary to agitations in the valley crushed violently with use of brutal force.

This is well known to the people and feels ashamed of being elected representative as grievances of the people remain unaddressed, Ranjit said.

According to the MLA, the Peace Committee of Sugnu, Serou, Napat, Tangjeng Ahallup with chiefs of nearby tribal villages formed on May 4, 2023 at the office of SDPO Sugnu managed to maintain peace till May 27, 2023 .

During the time, the Peace Committee demanded adequate security but government did not provided additional forces thereby resulting in Sugnu, Serou, Napat and Tangjeng Ahallup villages reduced to ashes, he said and held the state government accountable for suffering of the people, especially those who have been uprooted from their ancestral villages.

The chief minister should consult opposition MLAs on resolving the crisis and returning peace but no such initiative came from the chief minister despite being leader of the state, MLA Ranjit said and expressed regret over CM's indifferent attitude towards the opposition MLAs.

While appealing people of Sugnu and Serou not to believe in rumours, K Ranjit said some residents of Serou whose houses have been destroyed have started returning since September 11, 2023 and staying in the Serou relief camp.

He further appealed to the displaced Serou residents currently taking shelter at far off places not to panic as three-tier security protection is being given by central and state forces in Serou and Sugnu area.

On the other-hand, the MLA revealed that the violence-affected people of Serou and Sugnu, whose houses were torched by the Kukis, are yet to get any compensation amount from the government for construction of their houses though chief minister N Biren Singh handed over dummy cheques to some by calling them at CM secretariat.

People of Serou and Sugnu whose houses were destroyed in the ongoing violence that broke out on May 3, 2023 had a sigh of relief when government promised to construct their houses.

Accordingly, three buses carried families of the violence victims of Serou and Sugnu till the CM secretariat to receive the rehabilitation package.

However, government selected only four beneficiaries of Serou and Sugnu and handed dummy cheques to them contrary to what the entire violence victims had anticipated.

Even the four beneficiaries who were handed dummy cheques by the chief minister in front of the media are yet to get any amount till date, MLA Ranjit said and strongly accused the government of play-acting instead of taking up proactive action.

MLA K Ranjit stated this on the sidelines of the inspection of the Kacha Dam constructed over Chakpi river in Serou for providing irrigation water to 400 hectare paddy fields in Serou area.

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