IMPHAL, November 5: The recently formed Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur an apex body of 34 organizations has decided to launch various forms of agitation starting November 8 against the failure of the state government to take up any positive actions towards easing the grievances of the people of the state due to the prolonged economic blockade as demanded by the committee.
The decision was taken during an executive meeting of the committee at the Keishampat office of NIPCO.
Speaking at a press conference held after the meeting, convenor of the committee Elangbam Chanu Tampha Tombi, informed media persons that the committee had submitted its seven point charter of demands to the state Chief Minister on October 24, however the government has failed to act upon the demands of the committee.
She further reminded that in their charter of demands, the committee has appealed to the state Chief Minister to utilize all available state machineries in order to open the blockade prone highways of the state and enable the transporters to freely ply along the roads so as to maintain the required supply of essential commodities in the state.
It had further demanded from the government opening of the fair price shops and to regulate proper functioning of the government’s price fixation committee, to increase the number of trade items especially essential food items between India and Myanmar through Moreh.
However their main demand had been the provision of adequate security along both National Highways of the state especially the Imphal-Moreh stretch of the NH 39 to prevent anti-socials and UG elements from disturbing normal transportation along the highways. The committee had further demanded proper maintenance of National Highway 53/37, she further informed.
Further speaking at the press conference, she informed that even though the committee has been waiting for the government to respond to its just and reasonable demands, the state government seem to remain as mute spectator to the grievances of the people of the state, leaving no other way for the committee other than to launched its various forms of democratic agitation.
Another spokeswoman of the committee informed during the conference that the present attitude of the state government should be condemned by all people regardless of their communities. She has further informed that the silence maintained by the state government to the grievances of the people has brought a gap in the peaceful co-existence of the people.
Further elaborating on the committee’s line of agitation, she informed that the committee will organize mass sit in protest along with street corner meetings at various places of the state on November 8.
