Closed door meeting held between Jiribam MLA and Congress MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express
Jiribam, August 17 2018:
As reported in a local Bengali daily "Dainik Jugasangkha" on its August 13 edition, Jiribam MLA AC Ashab Uddin got in touch with Assam Congress MLA Kamlakhya Dey Purkasytha of Karimganj and a closed door meeting was held in the presence of Congress president of Cachar district from Pailapool Pradip Kumar Dey at the latter' s residence.
The report continued that the reason for the meeting is not yet known however on further enquiry, Jiribam MLA feigned ignorance while MLA Kamlakhya Dey said the report of holding the meeting was untrue.
When the media persons confronted them about the meeting which was held for a significant amount of time, both the MLA refused to divulge any details regarding the meeting, the report added.
According to a reliable source, on the day of the meeting, both the MLAs visited Chirupul refugee camp at Cachar Lakhipur to assess the living condition of the refugees - most of them were Bengalis pushed out from Jiribam.
The report also added that following the mass movement for ILPS in Manipur in 2016, the then Pradhan of Jiribam now MLA Ashab Uddin in association with the Bengali leaders of neighbouring Cachar including Cachar Congress leader Pradip Dey also mobilised the Bengalis of Jiribam and led a mass campaign to protect the rights and interests of Bengalis residing in Jiribam which culminated in the formation of North EastPeople's Committee (NEPCO) as a part of the campaign.
As a consequence, reports of hostility and squabble between Manipuris and non-Manipuris of Cachar were also published in the newspaper.
The report further continued that the conflict arising out of ILP issue in Jiribam by' and large is reflected in the recent introduction of Manipur People's Bill.
As such, the meeting of the two Bengali MLAs from different States can be perceived as an attempt to represent themselves as custodian of the rights and securities of Bengali speaking people not only in Manipur but the entire North East, the report added.
Seemingly, the talks between the Congress leaders of Assam and BJP MLA of Manipur can be seen as a strategy to disintegrate the BJP led Government, added the report.
On the other hand, Assam Congress MLA Kamlakhya is expected to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to highlight the displacement of Bengali speaking people from Manipur, report a reliable source.