IMPHAL, Oct 29: A large number of people including the internally displaced, on Sunday staged a protest on the road in Kakching district against the abject manner in which the state government and the centre was dealing with the crisis in Manipur.
People staged a silent protest covering their faces with clothes and stood on the roadsides at Kakching Lamkhai in Kakching district through which the chief minister Biren Singh and his convoy passed at around 10.30 am on Sunday. Singh was on his way to lay the foundation of a few development projects to be implemented in the district.
A large number of people, mostly womenfolk and displaced people from Moreh of Tengnoupal, who are residing at various relief camps in the district took part in the protest staged under the aegis of Langsai Thouna, a civil society organization based in Kakching district.
The protesters covered their faces with clothes to protest against the way Delhi kept the people in the valley areas like fishes in a pot, said Langsai Thouna convener Rajiv Kshetri.
“We strongly condemn the way the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the state, are dealing with the crisis, “ he said while alleging that no concrete step to resolve the crisis has been initiated even after nearly six months since the violence broke out on May 3 this year.
Even after nearly six months, no step for resettlement of the displaced Meitei residents of Moreh, the border town at Indo-Myanmar border has been taken up so far, he alleged.
He claimed that around 4500 Meitei residents of Moreh are taking shelter at various relief camps in Kakching district. Residents of villages in the fringe areas of the valley districts were also still taking shelter at relief camps.
“What step has been taken up to allow these displaced people to return to their original homes? Why does the chief minister not visit and inquire about the conditions of the people who were made refugees in their own land?” he asked.
During the foundation laying ceremony held at Keirak of the district, the chief minister laid the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 14 crores.
Among others, the projects included improvement of roads and construction of a football ground with natural grass at Keirak. (NNN)