Contrasting stand over bandh
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2012:
Differing stands on the ongoing indefinite bandh have emerged with one group stating that the bandh has been relaxed from midnight of December 23 till midnight of December 26, while another group has asserted that there is no question of relaxing the same.
Speaking to this reporter, Chairman of Film Forum, Manipur, Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma said that the decision to suspend the bandh was taken during a marathon meeting held somewhere at Imphal East today from 1 pm to 7 pm.
Stating that representatives of various civil society organisations attended the meeting, Surjakanta said that the decision was taken in view of the over 10,000 people from the hill areas stranded at Imphal.
The stranded people were to go to their respective homes at the hill places for the Christmas celebration.
The decision to relax the bandh was also taken in view of the appeals received from numerous civil society organisations and Church bodies, he said.
However on the other hand, another group of film artistes has strongly opposed the decision to relax the bandh.
They said that the decision was taken without taking them into confidence and added that they cannot accept such a decision at this point of time.
Speaking to The Sangai Express actor Sunil Myboy and a member of the Film Forum, Manipur said that the decision to relax the bandh was a unilateral stand taken by Surjakanta.
The bandh will continue as it is, he asserted and reiterated the appeal to all not to give any communal overtone to the agitation.
The question of withdrawing or relaxing the bandh can only be decided by the public, he asserted.
A number of actors and film artistes visited media offices to assert their stand.
Late in the evening an effigy of Surjakanta was reportedly set aflame at Khurai Salanthong.