NEPO seeks relaxation for medicines
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 16 2011:
Even as North East People's Organisation (NEPO) Manipur Chapter today called on the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee and appealed for relaxation of the ongoing bandh for life saving drugs, the agitators have decided to add hunger strike to their different modes of agitation from tomorrow.
To this, SHDDC spokesperson Seikhothang Haokip said that the appeal of NEPO would be considered in an executive body meeting of the committee and the decision of the committee would be made known to the public.
Speaking at the meeting with NEPO officials at Elite Higher Secondary School, Kangpokpi Bazar today, Seikhothang said that they were aware of the difficulties being faced by the people of Manipur.
"But we too are facing the same hardships", he said.
Asserting that it is that responsibility of all the people to protect the integrity and unity of Manipur, Seikhothang iterated that they have no intention to make people of the State suffer.
"What we have been demanding and doing is for consolidation of the State's integrity", he claimed.
The Government need to shed its concept of paying no heed to people's grievances until people resort to bandhs and grievances.
The demand for Sadar Hills district is not for Kuki community alone but for all the communities.
He informed that 10 women will begin hunger strike at Kangpokpi Bazar from tomorrow onwards as part of the ongoing movement.
The committee further appealed to the people of Manipur to support their cause.
Former AMSU secretary and NEPO member Ph Premananda said that the demand for Sadar Hills district is justified and that the Government should fulfil it without delay.
He said that NEPO supports Sadar Hills district demand.
"The demand is not about upsetting the integrity of Manipur to form an independent State or merge with other States", Premananda noted.
There is no harm in demanding a district for people's welfare, he added.
The meeting was also attended by NEPO founder member LC Minabanta, associate convenor Ch Chidananda, members Nilbir, L Joykumar, M Indrajit as well as Kuki Women's Union president Rose Mangshi Haokip and former KSO president PK Haokip.