UCM, MCM laud Govt for halting fencing works
Source: Chronicle News Service

Moreh, June 29 2022: Days after chief minister N Biren announced that border fencing works in disputed areas would be halted, a team of United Committee Manipur (UCM) led by its president Joychandra Konthoujam and general secretary Deva Ngangom along with functionaries of Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) visited Kwatha village on Wednesday to inspect the disputed site particularly between Border Pillar No.80/81 and 82.UCM president Joychandra informed media persons that the inspection was made to ascertain the state government's assurance of stopping border fencing at disputed site and found complete cessation of fencing work by 82 BRTF at the disputed site by 82 BRTF.

He then lauded the government of Manipur for halting fencing work.

The team also met a BRTF labourer at one of the work sites with the latter informing that fencing work had stopped for since the past seven days.

After inspecting the site, Joychandra Konthoujam told media persons that government of Manipur must mount intense pressure on the Central government for resolving the disputed site before resuming the fencing work.

He also said that government must make it clear to the public about disputed and undisputed area or else UCM will not remain silent but take up necessary action.

While terming as unfortunate that Union minister of state for external affairs RK Ranjan has backtracked on his assurance to resolve border dispute, the UCM president maintained that the Union minister who hails from Manipur must translate his assurance into action by understanding the pulse and sentiment of the people.

Mention may be made that on June 23 CM Biren announced that the fencing works along the disputed areas of Indo-Myanmar border in the Manipur sector will not commence until all issues are resolved.

The CM made the proclamation in response to queries from media persons on the sidelines of Olympic Day Run, 2022.Biren had asserted that no fences will be installed along the disputed border from pillar no.79 to 81 to 61, as earlier rejected both by UCM and the locals.

The secretary of the Union Home Ministry has been informed both verbally and via an official letter in this regard, and urged to dispatch a team from the Ministry for visiting the areas and properly identify the same with officials from both India and Myanmar, so as to settle the issue once and for all, he had said at the same event.

Contrary to the CM's statement, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president Hareshwar Goswami alleged on June 24 that the fencing work in the disputed areas were continuing and the project is nearing completion.

While recalling how the Congress government stopped the border fencing work following public disenchantment, Hareshwar contended that the BJP government resumed the contentious border fencing work as soon as it came to power in 2017.Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan, he informed that a team of MPCC visited Kwatha and inspected Border Pillar 81 during which they found that construction of border fencing between BP 80 and 81 still continuing and almost completed.

Works for only about 300 metres (three subsidiary pillars) remained to be done, Hareshwar had stated.

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