Cong MLAs skip crucial public meeting on Sadar Hills issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, September 15 2014: The crucial public meeting on Sadar Hills issue organized by Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills today at Gamnom Sapormeina Community Hall resolved to have another round of meeting with elected MLAs and MDCs from Sadar Hills before taking a final decision on the course of action to be taken up.

The public meeting which was held at Gamnom Sapormeina community hall was attended by various civil organization leaders including Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association President Tongpu Kipgen, Kuki Women Union Manipur President Rose Mangshi, Kuki Organization for Human Rights Chairman Dr..TLunkim apart from block-wise Kuki Inpi leaders, various village chiefs, block-wise women unions and representatives of local civil bodies.

Lunthang Haokip, MDC of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council was the lone MDC who turned up while the three Congress MLA from Sadar Hills and other elected MDCs failed to attend the meeting.

public meeting on Sadar Hills at Gamnom Sapormeina Community Hall

Former leaders of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee, who had signed an MoU with the state Govt.on October 31 midnight, 2011 also failed to attend the meeting. While highlighting the factors and reasons of discontentment among the people in Sadar Hills during the meeting, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hill General Secretary N.Sehjalien Gangte said that creation of Sadar Hills is the outcome of an Act of Parliament called Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act of 1971 .

He continued that the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947 has clearly provided separate administration for the Hill people of the state and added that the Northeast (Re-Organization) Act, 1971 and other Major and Minor Acts of the Constitution provide for administration under the 6th Scheduled of the Constitution while Manipur and Tripura were under the direct administration of the Central Government, the special provision was not provided to the two states.

The KISH General Secretary further lamented that refusing to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district is directed towards deprivation of Economic development, social upliftment and political growth.

"Denying our fundamental Rights for 40 years is aimed at infusing communal hatred and subduing the interests of the citizens of Sadar Hills," asserted N.Sehjalien Gangte while recalling the suffering of he people during the last 40 years of agitations.

"As our legitimate demand for creation of Sadar Hills is being continuously denied and cleverly delayed for more than 40 years, the people of Sadar Hills now have been compelled to fight with whatever resources we have", Gangte added.

"Why and How the Parliament Act has been ignored and delayed for so long", wondered Tongpu Kipgen, President SAHILCA while adding that the Parliament Act became a mockery since it has been ignored and delayed for too long.

While reposing faith on the Modi-led NDA Govt, Kuki Women Union President Rose Mangshi opined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Govt will have a liberal approach to the Sadar Hills issue if discussed with.

Lunthang Haokip, MDC ,said that district boundary issue had already been finalized during the Nipamacha government and it should be followed.

Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills President Seikhomang Khongsai after the public discussion maintained that with the three Congress MLA from Sadar Hills and elected MDCs not in attendance in the public meeting, it has been resolved that another round of public meeting will be organized at Saikul soon to take a final resolution on the issue in the presence of the three Congress MLA of Sadar Hills and elected MDCs.

He continued that the scheduled for the next round of public meeting will be intimated very soon and urged the people of Sadar Hills to stand solidly with heads together and cooperate with the leaders.