Tamenglong forum calls shutdown against CM's visit
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 20 2021: The Tamenglong Concerned People's Forum (TCPF) has called for a total shutdown in Tamenglong town on September 22, the day chief minister N.Biren is scheduled to visit.

In a release, the Forum stated that the shutdown will be in solidarity with the demand raised by other organisations in the hill districts for tabling of the HAC Bill, 2021 in the state assembly and in denunciation of the move to induct MLAs from assembly constituencies in non-scheduled area into the HAC.

According to TPCF media cell, the Tamenglong visit is a well calculated move by the CM and his 'coteries' to rebuild his image, which has taken a severe dent on the account of non-tabling of HAC Bill, 2021 and the move to induct valley MLAs into the HAC.

The Forum maintained that though it has been publicised that the CM's visit to Tamenglong has nothing to do with the 'Go to Hills 2.2' mission, the very purpose of the visit to inaugurate incomplete developmental projects is contradictory to the tall talks of bringing development on par with other districts.

There is an infamous tradition of inaugurating incomplete development projects in Tamenglong, and by inviting the CM, the district administration seems to be in favour of continuing this ignominious tradition, it said.

The TPCF contended that the enthusiasm of many Tamenglong-based CSO leaders to invite CM to the district when other hill districts have declared non-cooperation movement against the state government is conspicuous of taking unscrupulous advantage of the situation and to further their own personal interests.

"CSOs are supposed to represent the voice of the people, and should not be used as a tool to satisfy the political thirst of few individuals.

The recent decision by the Joint Tribes Council of the Rongmei, Liangmai, Inpui and Zeme to invite the CM of Manipur, in connivance with the district administration has created a huge trust deficit between the CSOs and the public whom they claim to represent," it said.

"Tamenglong Concerned People's Forum stands for the rights of tribal communities.

The divisive politics played by many of our leaders should not veer us away from the greater and most genuine cause of our rights as tribal people," it added.

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