Thangso Baite strikes a discordant note; levels charges of inaction
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 03 2011: Though belonging to the same party, the Outer Manipur Parliamentary MP Thangso Baite struck a discordant note by voicing strong criticism of the Ibobi led SPF government's handling of the Sadar Hills district issue.

While demanding declaration of a full fledged Sadar Hills District, the MP alleged that the government lack sincerity and genuine concern for the people of Sadar hills.

Thangso Baite addressing a press conference said that the inaction of the government has led to many problems.

This, despite the fact that the government has acknowledged time and again that the demand for a full fledged Sadar Hills district is genuine.

"Successive state governments, for the past forty years, have chosen to ignore the issue of Sadar Hills and the demand for a full fledged Sadar Hills district," the MP said.

Manipur Police personnel queuing up for their share of petrol

Disagreeing with the government's move of setting up the Committee on Re-organisation of Administrative and Police Boundaries, Thangso Baite opined that there is no need for reorganization of Sadar Hills unlike in the case of Jiribam and Phungyar.

Stressing that districts should be created for administrative convenience, he urged the Nagas to understand that the Sadar Hills District is not based on ethnic line but has been solely pursued for the development of the region.

" A district cannot be created in the interest of one community alone", he said.

The present situation arises out of the Sadar Hills issue is the mistake of many unstable government of Manipur which kept ignoring the issue for the past many years.

In this situation, the only plausible solution to end the menace of economic blockade along the National Highways and the hardships being faced by the people of the troubled torn state is to fulfill the demand of the SHDDC and the people of Sadar Hills.

The government can take up the steps of re-organisation after granting district status, if needed, he added.

When asked about centre's stand on the latest development of the Sadar Hills issue, he told that he had discussed the issue with the centre.

However, the centre government advised him to let the state government settle the issue since it is a state issue.

The issue is not a matter of a separate administration from Manipur but it is for a better development and administration of Sadar Hills under the purview of the state government, he said.