Imphal, Aug 05: Observing that the notification issued by the State Govt for a public hearing on August 7 in connection with the Capitol complex is irrational, many social organisations have reiterated that Lei-Ingkhol inmates should not be evicted under any circumstances for construction of the Capitol complex.

They asserted that there is no need for any public hearing on the matter.

During a press meet held today at the Manipur Press Club under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee Against Eviction of Lei-Ingkhol, representatives of different organisations decried the move of the State Govt to evict Lei-Ingkhol while conveying strong opposition to the move.

General secretary of the JAC, M Anil reminded that Lei-Ingkhol inmates have been undertaking various protest movements for the last 16 months against the eviction drive.

Recalling that the first public hearing in connection with construction of Capitol complex was held in March this year, he noted the second public hearing on the same issue scheduled for August 7 at the office of Imphal East DC is irrational and uncalled for.

Observing that any public hearing should provide a platform to the general public to express their opinion on the concerned matter, he questioned the credibility of the proposed public hearing and the previous one when foundation stones had been laid for many buildings of the complex.

Recalling that the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the complex in November 2004 and then the Chief Justice of India laid the foundation stone for the High Court complex on April 30 this year, Anil ridiculed the idea of public hearing after all these.

There would be no point in such public hearing convened just for name sake, he disclosed that the JAC would not support the public hearing.

Taking part in the press meet, Phunindro Konsam said that the people of Manipur do not hinder development works being undertaken by the State Govt in any way.

However such development works should not be in total disregard of peoples' desire.

He flayed the initiative of the State Govt to construct Capitol complex in the most congested part of Imphal city.

He declared that the Committee on Human Rights would not support the move of the Govt to evict Lei-Ingkhol to pave way from Capitol complex.

Secretary of UCM O Hemanta while noting that most of the inmates of Lei-Ingkhol are lepers who don't have the advantage to go home, cautioned the Govt that to evict Lei-Ingkhol would mean forfeiting the rights to live of the inmates.

Jiten Yumnamcha of CCDD took strong exception to the proposed public hearing.

He asserted that people should not support such an irrational deceptive move of the State Government.

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