Border Row: Opposition piles up heat, serves ultimatum
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 23 2013: Along with staging a mass sit-in demonstration against the controversial border fencing along Indo-Myanmar International boundary at Moreh where a large chunk of Manipur's land have reportedly gone to Myanmar, Opposition Political Parties in the State today served an ultimatum to the Central Government to bring about an amicable solution within October next.

The sit-in protest demonstration, which was staged in place of the proposed mass rally as the State Government clamped CrPC 144 in Imphal area, started from 2 pm and continued till 4:30 pm at Keishampat Lairembi Shanglen here.

Representatives of 13 Opposition Parties including N Kavita, President of Samajwadi Party State Unit; Dr M Nara, Secretary of CPI, Manipur State Council; Athon Abomei, Secretary Organisation of NPF, Manipur State Unit; Manihar Goshwami of JD (S); MLA L Ibomcha who is also the President, NCP Manipur Pradesh; MI Khan of Pangal Political Forum; N Sobhakiran, President of MPP; Y Mani, President of MSCP; Gyaneshwar of Forward Block; Tomba of Trinamool Congress S Shamungou of Lok Jana Shakti Party and Nilamani of BJP, etc took part in the protest demonstration.

During the course of the protest demonstration, the issue was the present border dispute was discussed minutely and unanimously adopted various resolutions.

The resolutions included immediate halt of the border fencing process being carried out at Moreh, carrying out of proposed joint survey by India and Myanmar considering the sentiments of the people, removal of the wooden border fencing erected right through Haolenphai village at the earliest; inclusion of a person well versed in the history of Manipur in the joint survey team; announcement of immediate halt on the ongoing border fencing process by the GoI and Manipur and implementation of these demands in the interest of people within the month of Octobr next.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, N Sovakiran of MPP alleged that the O Ibobi Singh-led Congress Government in the State has taken Rs 5, 08 lakh from the Centre on the pretext of giving compensations to the villagers of Chandel district affected by the border fencing.

But the ruling Government will use this money in contesting the next Lok Sabha elections.

Contesting election by selling state's border lands will invite hue and cry from the people and it is better that the Congress stop such a fraudulent move, he cautioned.

Sovakiran pointed out that when the Indian border along Jammu and Kashmir was at stake and when the Chinese army were just relaxing for a while inside the territory of India, it was made a big issue and brought up for discussion even in the Parliament on priority basis.

However, when a large area of Manipur have reportedly gone to Myanmar as a result of the border fencing process, the Congress Government, both at the Centre and the State, are remaining silent.

The leaders of the State are busy distributing kerosene and rice to the people and trying to divert the issue, he alleged.

L Sotinkumar of CPI exhorted that the ongoing border fencing process which has led to lost of a large track of Manipur's land to Myamar is a serious issue and all the political parties should come together cutting across party lines to find out an amicable solution.

More pressure should be exerted on the State Government which is remaining silent over the issue and forced it to take up necessary measures, he added.

M Tombi of JD (U) stated that the Congress Government instead of coming down on opposition parties should try to see and understand the attitude of the Central Government over the present border fencing process.

No part of Manipur should be given away to Myanmar at all.

Tomba of Trinamool Congress reminded the responsibility of the State Government to protect the territorial integrity of the State as well as to work for the welfare of the people.

The people of the State should understand the motive behind the silent attitude of the State Government at this point of time when the territory of the Manipur is at stake.

The issue cannot be taken lightly.

Y Nilamani of BJP charged the Congress Government of doing nothing worthwhile for the people of the State.

Even during the Chief Ministership of Rishang Keishing, no work worth mentioning was taken up, but had only sown the seed of communalism in the State.

Instead of taking the border issue seriously, the Congress Government is busy wooing the public with Food Security Bill, he added.

Athon Abomei of NPF stated that the Congress Governments both at the Centre and state have not taken any concrete step to resolve the three-month-old border issue of the two neighbours, leaving the people in utter dismay and confusion.

MI Khan of PPF urged all the NGOs, other social organizations and political parties to visit New Delhi and gherao the Parliament over the border issue.

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