Jiri district demand : CM opens dialogue door
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 12 2011: Following an invitation from the Chief Minister to discuss the demand for upgrading Jiribam sub-division to the status of a full fledged revenue district, the proposed total blockade scheduled to be enforced from 6 pm of August 14 has been postponed till August 29 .

A decision to this effect was adopted by the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) after deliberating on O Ibobi's invitation sent by Secretary to Chief minister Sumant, the assurances given by Works Minister K Ranjit and Planning Board Deputy Chairman Bijoy Koijam as well as the hardships likely to be faced by the people.

Speaking to media persons at Jiribam this afternoon, JDDC convenor M Maipak said that the committee decided to postpone the proposed blockade till August 30 based on the Chief Minister's invitation, assurances given by Government representatives and hardships of the people which would be compounded by the total blockade on NH53 .

Jiribam connected to its district by NH-53

Asserting that the Government should fulfil the people's justified demand, Maipak, however, declared that JDDC would launch intense forms of agitation in case no positive action is taken up once the scheduled meeting with the Chief Minister is held on August 29 .

Hinting that many untoward incidents may happen in the course of the agitation, now temporarily suspended, Maipak asserted the Government should bear sole responsibility for any untoward incident.

Though included in Imphal East district, Jiribam is 220 Kms away from the district headquarters.

There is no controversy or dispute of any kind regarding the boundary of Jiribam which covers 284 sq kms having total population of around 50,000 .

Talking about the need for a clear demarcation before creating any district, the convenor claimed that the Government of India's Delimitation Commission has already clarified that there is no dispute or controversy about the boundary of Jiribam.

The convenor and other members of the committee reminded about Chief Minister O Ibobi's assurance given during the election campaign of 2006 that the demand for upgrading Jiribam to the status of a district was justified and that it was only matter of time before the same demand was fulfilled.

The same assurance was also given Senior Cabinet Minister Th Debendra who is representing Jiribam in the State Legislative Assembly.

"The JDDC and the people of Jiribam can under strong protest demonstration but we are refraining ourselves from such actions considering the hardships that would befall the people of Manipur", they said.

However, in case the outcome of the scheduled meeting turns negative, the Government should bear the responsibility and face the impact of a strong and sustained agitation, they warned.

In a follow up action of the Chief Minister's invitation, Works Minister K Ranjit and Planning Board Deputy Chairman Bijoy Koijam interacted with representatives of JDDC from 8 am to 1.30 pm today.