IMPHAL, March 14: The Zeliangrong Baudi Assam, Manipur and Nagaland has decided to limit and restrict the number of bandhs and strikes in Zeliangrong inhabited areas along the Imphal-Jiri Road, the National Highways, national, international projects: railway construction and others.
A statement of the apex body of the Zeliangrong community, issued by its general secretary Dr Gairiangmei Maringmei has said that following a series of consultations and discussions across frontal organizations of the Zeliangrong community, the ZB, AMN convened a meeting on March 14 at its office at Tarung, Imphal.
It said the organisation in its meeting adopted and resolved unanimously to limit and restrict the number of bandhs and strikes in Zeliangrong inhabited areas along the Imphal-Jiri Road, the National Highway, national, international projects: railway construction and others.
The ZB AMN further appealed to all the leaders of the concerned members of Zeliangrong community to understand the issues which are very important to the common tribal issues, Naga political issue, and any matter related which could affect the integrity and the unity of the Zeliangrong land and resources that attempt to further divide the Tamenglong district and creation of new districts at the cost of Zeliangrong territory to make Zeliangrong people minority and since these are considered top priority, to defend the rights, it is fit to use all available means including bandhs and strikes on all national and international projects and blocking highway.
It said frequent bandhs and strikes along the Imphal-Jiri Road, National Highway, national and international projects greatly affect the daily wage earners, labourers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and common people of Tamenglong district, Manipur.
The frequent bandhs and strikes also cost dearly to the progress of the developmental works of Tamenglong District, Manipur and hinders completion of the projects within the expected time frame, it said.
It said issues of other districts that could hit hard the economy of the poor people which depends on small business and daily wages along the National Highway, National and International Projects should not be brought to Zeliangrong inhabited areas.
It is not good that for any issue and problem arising in the State, the construction of railway and other national projects along the National Highway become soft targets to draw attention of the Union Government and the arm twist the State government, it said.
The ZB, AMN as the apex body of the Zeliangrong community cautions and warns all associations and other aggrieved parties not to take the law in their own hands without classifying the merit of the issue that really compels to call bandh and strike along the Imphal-Jiri Road, the National Highways, national and international projects, it said.
Any group or JAC which form to address the local and petty issues and also to meet the interest of few individuals should not call bandh on the Imphal-Jiri Road, the only life line of Tamenglong District, National and International projects, it said.
It is very important to learn that bandh and strike should not be used as the first resort to draw the attention of the government but to use as the last resort when all other means of democratic agitations are exhausted, it said.
Therefore, we appeal to all the concerned associations and the aggrieved parties to avoid calling bandh and strike on the said above life line and various projects which are of very important to the development of the Tamenglong District. Any association and group attempt to impede the developmental works of the district are considered as against the progress and development and it will be termed as anti-Zeliangrong people.
If any association/organization is compelled by serious confronting issues that arouse the necessary to call bandh/strike must take the confident of the Zeliangrong apex organization and all the frontal organisations of Zeliangrong people. Any bandh or strike call in Zeliangrong inhabited areas without the knowledge of the concerned Zeliangrong organizations the consequences of their actions shall be borne by themselves.