AITUC pitches for highway protection force
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 21 2023:
Raising serious concern over rampant extortion activities and frequent attacks on transporters along the national highways, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Manipur State Unit has declared it would launch protest and exert pressure until the government establishes highway protection force.
Addressing a press meet at CPI office here on Saturday, AITUC state general secretary L Sotinkumar said that a joint meeting of AITUC district units was held on Saturday to discuss the persistent threat on transporters and extortion activities by militant groups along the national highway.
The meeting resolved to press the Centre and the state government to set up highway protection force at the earliest and to launch an indefinite protest until the demand is met.
The meeting also resolved to seek suggestions from subject experts and all stakeholders for working out action plan including boycott of the Prime Minister and the union home minister as part of the protest, he said while urging for public support in this regard.
He further said that AITUC.
state unit will participate in the national level agitation to be held in Delhi with a protest march up to Parliament House.
The state unit will also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding the present crisis in the state and its impact.
Sotinkumar said that the whole state is relying on the two national highways connecting the state with the rest of the country.
NSCN-1M and Kuki militant groups have been collection illegal taxes along the national highways for long.
Today, Kuki militant groups have doubled the extortion amount and they are also resorting to attacking and assaulting transporters.
In such a situation, AITUC cannot remain silent, which is why the union is adopting the resolution to launch the protest, he said.
He also highlighted the sufferings of transporters in the hand of the militant groups and their terror activities ranging from extortion to assault and from armed attack to burning of trucks.
Unfortunately, the government has not beerfable to come up with a permanent solution to this issue.
Keeping in view of the illegal activities along the highways, establishment of a dedicated highway protection force has become a necessity, he added.