Sustain agitation : CCpur JAC
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, April 14 2016 : The agitation of the State tribals that commenced last August after the State Assembly passed the three infamous 'anti-tribal Bills' has touched more than two-hundred days but the JAC that led the agitation has today renewed the call to sustain the agitation in the absence of any concrete step either from the State or the Central Government.

The JAC's call was made after a three-member team returned from Delhi after spending a considerable time on lobbying and consultation.

It has been learnt from officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs that no concrete step has been taken by the Centre on the grievances raised by the tribals of Manipur, though the Ministry has already convened a special meeting on the issue and are very much versed with the issue, said the JAC team.

As such it is very much imperative for the tribals to sustain the agitation until that time the Central Government makes a concrete move to safeguard the rights of the tribals, added the JAC.

It may be noted that the nine 'tribal martyrs' who were killed during the initial days of the agitation are still lying unburied at the district hospital mortuary and a dharna and condolence meetings have been continuing both at the hospital campus and at a parking space located in front of the district police station.

Detailing their activities, the JAC team said they left for New Delhi to participate in the one-day National Seminar on Tribals and Constitutional Safeguards : The Question of Land-Rights in India organised by Centre for Study of Social System (CSSS), JNU on March 31 .

At the seminar, the keynote address of which was delivered by Jairam Ramesh (former Union Minister), JAC Chief Convenor H Mangchinkhup had given an hour long presentation on Tribal Movement for Constitutional Safeguards: The Case of Manipur along with a 10 minute video on the ongoing tribal movement which was widely appreciated and well-received by the audience.

The JAC and MTFD had also jointly organised a consultative meeting at Arunachal House wherein tribe elders from the Hmar, Kuki, Naga and Zomi communities deliberated on the future course of action, said the JAC.

The JAC and MTFD team also reportedly met various Union Ministers and Government officials to apprise them of the sentiments and desires of the tribal people of Manipur for an acceptable and sustainable solution.

The team also met Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping to apprise him of the works taken up by the public through the JAC's Manipur Tribal Movement Road Construction Committee, as well as the plans to take up construction of the bridge over Tuivai river at Sipuikawn and the need for a ring road connecting all major towns and district headquarters of the hill areas of Manipur.

The team also met MPs who spoke on behalf of the ongoing tribal movement, to thank them and apprise them of the current situation, the JAC said.

The JAC team claimed that MP Tarun Vijay was very sympathetic to their cause and had told them that he had raised their issue because he knew their rights were exploited and oppressed.

The JAC members further claimed that a meeting will soon be convened to set-up a meeting with the Chief Minister of Mizoram to also thank him for championing the rights of the tribals and to apprise him of the current situation.

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