Agatha correlates insurgency to unemployment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 16 2011:
In addition to witnessing numerous unwanted incidents in the society, failure of the Government to provide employment avenues for the educated youth has been unwittingly promoting insurgency in Manipur, stated NCP MP Agatha Sangma.
Nevertheless, she described Manipur as a land of breathtaking natural beauty among the
Northeastern States.
Addressing a one-day political conference of NCP at Keishamthong Ahanthem Leikai today, Agatha stated that Manipur has immense potential in several sectors.
However, the flawed policy of the incumbent Government has been keeping a large number of educated youths unemployed.
On account of this pervading unemployment problem, Manipuri society has been witnessing innumerable untoward incidents for the last many years.
Unemployment is also the one fundamental factor for the rising level of insurgency, she asserted.
Noting that the Government has been acting deaf and blind to Irom Sharmila's 11 year old crusade against AFSPA, she lamented that the unsurpassed struggle of Sharmila has never been given due publicity it deserved.
Acknowledging the pivotal roles taken by women in tackling several issues and crisis, Agatha called upon Manipuri womenfolk to shoulder even more greater responsibility to bring a revolutionary change in the State.
She also decried the stoic silence maintained by the North East MPs Forum when the people of Manipur were suffering untold misery due to the more than three months long economic blockade imposed along National Highways leading to Imphal.
NCP Manipur Pradesh president Radhabinod Koijam remarked that the incumbent SPF Government is a Government of contract works and corruption.
NCP spokesperson and ex-Minister Laishom Ibomcha said that NCP would field candidates in 25 Assembly constituencies covering both the valley and hill districts in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections.
Out of these 25 AC, NCP candidates would be victorious in at least 15 ACs, he claimed.
Later to speaking to media persons, Agatha Sangma stated that NCP may go for pre-poll alliance with like minded political parties.
She said that her three-day visit to Manipur was mainly concerned three issues.
The first issue was the untold misery suffered by the people of Manipur due to the economic blockade which lasted for more than three months and the abject failure of the SPF Government to do anything to ameliorate the people's misery.
The second issue was the hardships being endured by the people due to imposition of AFSPA and the State Government's helplessness.
The third agenda of her visit was to take stock of the political scenario unfolding in Manipur in the backdrop of the fast approaching Assembly elections.
Radhabinod Koijam said that NCP would form pre-poll alliance with like minded political parties and work collectively to topple the Congress-led Government.
MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang who was also present at the press meet claimed that MPP and NCP have struck an agreement for a pre-poll alliance.
He stated that the alliance has its doors wide open to all non-Congress parties.
MPP leaders Th Chaoba, Dr L Chandramani and projected NCP candidate Laishom Ibomcha were also present at the press meet.