24 hr gen strike demanding urgent Assembly session comes into force
House convened on Aug 21; Kuki MLAs told to stay away
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 04 2023: Even as the Cabinet recommended summoning the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 21, 2023 to the Governor, a number of Kuki organisations including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Kuki Chiefs' Association (KSA) and Kuki Women Union (KWU) have asked the Kuki MLAs not to attend the Assembly session.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Kuki Chiefs' Association (KSA) and Kuki Women Union (KWU) stated that no Kuki-Zo MLA must participate in the upcoming Assembly session in person or video conferencing.

Any Kuki-Zo MLA participating in the special session must himself/herself hold all responsibility to answer to the people, the Kuki apex bodies warned.

It further stated that it is utterly regrettable that a State Government is at the dictate of a particular community.

Stating that the Kuki-Zo community has irreparably lost trust and confidence in the State Government, the bodies said that any efforts with the State Government will be utterly aimless.

Earlier the United Naga Council had also stated that the Naga MLAs should not succumb to the diktats of some CSOs to convene the Assembly and attend the same, while stressing on the need to check illegal infiltration from across the border.

On the other hand, the 24-hour general strike called by the Coordinating Committee of 27 Assembly Constituencies has come into force this midnight.

The general strike was announced in view of the State's Government's failure to convene an "Emergency Assembly Session" to discuss the prevailing situation and other pressing matters.

Announcing the general strike at Tera, the convenor of the committee L Binod said it is very unfortunate that the State Government has decided to convene an Assembly Session in the third week of August.

The committee had urged the State Government to convene an Emergency Session and discuss the pressing matters at hand and send a resolution for upholding the Integrity of the State to the Parliament before the adjournment of the monsoon session.

It will be meaningless to hold the State session after the said period, he said.

Considering the urgency, the State Government should make all efforts to address the issue, he said.

But disregarding the appeal and sentiments of the people, the State Government continued to turn a deaf ear to the call and came up with the plan to hold the session late, he said while adding that the committee will not accept such a session.

He also said that the general strike has been called by the committee out of necessity and not with an intention to add burden to the people.

If the State continues to remain silent after the said period, the committee is prepared to storm residences of the MLAs and hold sit-ins until a concrete response is received.

The United Protection Committee, Nambol also decided to endorse the general strike.

In a statement, the United Protection Committee said the proposal for a special Assembly session is very timely and urged all public in Nambol AC, Oinam AC and Konthoujam AC to support the general strike since the State Government has failed to respond to the appeal of the committee.

Comment