ZUF asks Tml MLAs to resign
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06 2015: Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has urged Zeliangrong MLAs �Gaikhangam, Z Kikhonbou and Janghemlung Panmei to resign immediately while cautioning that the MLAs should be held responsible in case any untoward incidents happen in Zeliangrong area with regard to the passing of the three infamous Bills in Manipur Legislative Assembly recently.

According to a statement issued by A Longmei, information and publicity secretary, ZUF held its emergency Dimki (general meeting) at its headquarters, Dilung on Sept 4 in the backdrop of the Manipur Legislative Assembly passing the three infamous Bills �PMP, MLR& LR (7th Amendment ) Bill, 2015 and MSE (2nd Amendment) Bill on August 31 .

The Dimki unanimously condemned the Manipur State Assembly for its unilateral decision to pass the said three bills without considering the interest of the tribal people of Manipur.

The Dimki also resolved to stop any implementation of such unjust Acts in Zeliangrong inhabited areas and vehemently condemned all tribal MLAs and the three Zeliangrong MLAs in particular who supported the Bills.

All the tribal frontal organisations must join hands and fight against such 'anti-tribal' Bills to safeguard their traditional lands and protect their fundamental rights.

The ZUF will render all necessary support to the tribal frontal organisations in this regard.

The hill MLAs who supported the bills must take full responsibility for the death of innocent people in Churachandpur district and for any incident that may happen in future.

The ZUF sought immediate resignation of the hills MLAs for their anti-tribal activities.

Meanwhile, ZUF hailed the NPF MLAs for tendering their resignations.

Other tribal MLAs must follow suit at the earliest, it said.

It may be pertinent to mention that during the Hills Areas Committee meeting held on May 22, 1980, Gaikhangam along with his other two colleagues from Zeliangrong community also signed for the creation of Sadar Hills Revenue district without the consent of the Zeliangrong people and their frontal organisations.

Large chunk of Zeliangrong traditional land was bartered/traded for his own political ends.

As peoples' representative he should have at least consulted the community's frontal organisations before taking any decision that may hurt the sentiment of the people.

It is unfortunate to have such MLAs who could not feel the pulse nor understand the minds of his people but always there to please the interest of the other communities just to save his position, ZUF said.

During the Zeliangrong Peoples' Convention (ZPC) Movement in 1980s, Gaikhangam though, he is one of the 60 committee members of the movement betrayed and back-stabbed not only his co-committee members but also the entire Zeliangrong public by going against the ZPC movement for integration and later on for a separate Statehood.

"The higher he climbs the political ladder Gaikhangam not only impedes the interest and aspirations of his people but also ruthlessly attempted to suppress such endeavours.

Moreover, on every possible occasion he always works and speaks against the cause of the Nagas," ZUF alleged.

Today, he is the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur and so he could have at least tried to take every possible measure under his command to protect the interest of the tribals for he himself is a Zeliangrong by birth.

But instead, he led the tribal MLAs into his political cauldron and anti-tribal gambit.

Therefore, Gaikhangam is 'anti-tribal,' 'anti-Naga' and now he is exposing his 'anti-tribal' colour, it added.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Government of Manipur from time to time has been trying to convert Jiribam subdivision (Imphal East) into full-fledged revenue district by carving out some portion of Taosem subdivision of Tamenglong district.

These three Zeliangrong MLAs are found to be spectators in this regard as well even though their people are raising hue and cry over the issue, it alleged.

Considering these precedents, it is most likely that these tribal MLAs including the three Zeliangrong MLAs may not have any compunction in selling the tribal traditional lands and constitutional rights of the tribal people.

"ZUF stands solidly with the tribal people of Manipur in the fight against the Government of Manipur for passing the anti-tribal Bills.

The ZUF also pays deepest homage to the 'tribal martyrs' in Churachandpur district while wishing speedy recovery to the injured persons," the ZUF statement said.

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