Committee seeks public hearing date
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 24 2011: Informing that there are many Zeliangrong villagers and organisations willing to participate in the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Re-organisation of Administrative and Police District Boundary (CRA&PDB) to express their views and opinions regarding the demand for creation of Sadar Hills as full fledged district, the Committee Against Creation of Sadar Hills district has stated that CRA &PDB should not ignore sentiments of Zeliangrong people and other affected people.

The committee staged a silent protest rally on November 17 demonstrating the Zeliangrong people' strong opposition to the MoU signed between the State Government and the SHDDC on October 31, and also sought appointment for participation in the public hearing but till today no specific date has been fixed, said a press release issued by the committee's convenor Akhu Kamei.

The CRA &PDB should not make the ongoing public hearing a mockery by being one-sided and the views and opinions of all those who oppose the Sadar Hills demand should be heard and recorded with total neutrality.

Alleging that most of the Kuki chiefs' association which participated in the public hearing were bogus and did not exist in Tamenglong district, it demanded that the veracity and authenticity of these organisations should be verified first before submitting the public hearing report to the Government.

The Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills District would apprise leaders of the Union Government if the report of the public hearing is submitted to the Government before the views and opinions of all the concerned people are heard and recorded.

The committee has already submitted memorandums to the Prime Minister, the UPA Chairperson and the Union Home Minister reminding about the Union Home Minister's directive issued in 1990 regarding merger of Zeliangrong people to Tamenglong district.

Opportunity should be given to all the people who are willing to participate in the public hearing otherwise the whole exercise would be meaningless if views and opinions of only the people/organisations favouring Sadar Hills district are heard and reported to the Government, it added.

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