IMPHAL, December 6: The Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) angered by the inaction of the state government to materialize the MoU signed between the committee and the state government even as November has ended, is likely to resume its agitation from mid December.
Talking to IFP in this regard Tonghen Kipgen, secretary SHDDC, informed that a special meeting of the committee was convened today at the district council hall Kangpokpi and deliberated on the prevailing situation and further course of action to be taken up in the wake of the failure of the government to fulfill its commitment.
He informed that the committee during the meet has resolved that it will take a final decision on its further course of action by December 16 implicating that the committee will resume its agitation if the government fail to materialize the MoU.
There are two options before the committee; whether to trust the government or to resume its agitation including blockade as done before; during and even after the election.
The SHDDC is going to start mobilizing the campaign for its next round of agitation in various pockets of Sadar Hills area and organize a consultative meet with the leaders through its sub-committees, volunteers, Tonghn Kipgen further said.
While elaborating on the issues taken up during the special meeting, the SHDDC, general secretary, said that the meet reviewed the MoU signed between the committee and the state government. The meet further noted the government’s failure to fulfill its commitment of granting district status to Sadar Hills despite given a whole month of November.
The SHDDC has further demanded a clarification from the government regarding the recent creation of a police outpost at Maphou area which falls under Sadar Hills as Imphal East district, he stated.
Tonghen further reacted on the recent statement given by the Chief Minister of Manipur during the very recent visit of PM and UPA chairperson, stating that “The government will not solve a problem by creating a problem”.
The SHDDC general secretary maintained that “Creation of Sadar Hills district is a solution to a prolonged problem”.
“There may be a few communities opposing the creation of Sadar Hills district but they are against the government and not against the SHDDC; those who are opposing the government and especially against the integrity of Manipur, however we are with the government and will safeguard the integrity of the state”, further stated the SHDDC secretary.
Further reacting to a statement of works minister, K Ranjit, who allegedly opposed the creation of Sadar Hills district, the SHDDC secretary questioned “Whether K Ranjit, who is not a commoner but a cabinet minister, was giving the statement on behalf of the state government or whether he made the statement with a vested interest”.
It may be recalled that the SHDDC and the state government signed a MoU on the midnight of October 31 following which the committee agreed to lift its 92 days old economic blockade.
As per the memorandum of understanding it was agreed upon that the existing Kangpokpi subdivision would be split into Champhai and T Vaichong subdivisions with headquarters at Champai and T. Vaichong. Existing Saikul subdivision would be divided into Saikul and Island subdivisions with headquarters at Saikul and Island. While the existing Saitu-Gamphazol subdivision would be split into Saitu-Gamphazol and Kangchup Geljang subdivisions with headquarters at Gamnom Saparmeina and Kangchup Geljang as headquarters.
The MoU further mentioned that the newly proposed 3 (three) sub-divisions under Sadar Hills will be inaugurated within the month of November, 2011.