Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10:
Apart from the State wide general strike from tomorrow morning, numerous agitation programmes have been chalked out to oppose the State Government's ongoing initiative to construct the the Tipaimukh multi-purpose project.
Detailing the proposed agitations, co-convenor of Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (Actip) Kinderson Pamei said in addition to the general strike enforced from 6 am of November 11 till 6 am of November 12, the forthcoming visits of the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would be boycotted.
Failure to elicit any positive response from the State Government to the declared agitations would result in indefinite blockade of National Highways 39 and 53, warned the co-convenor.
Decision to launch the agitation was adopted at a meeting attended by representatives 29 different organisations including Centre for Social Development, Chandel Naga People's Organisation, Naga Students' Union (Chandel), Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland), United Naga Council, Naga Women's Union and Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, he informed.
The meeting entitled 'Campaign against tipaimukh Dam' was convened at senapati village community hall on November 6 wherein the participants were unanimous in launching the agitation if there is no acceptable and positive response from the Govt side, he iterated.
Pamei demanded that the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the State Govt and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation be annulled and the Govt notification for holding public hearings on the issue at CCPur on November 17 and at Tamenglong slated for November 22 should be revoked.
recalling that several memoranda to honour the bodies' demands had been submitted to the Chief Minister without any positive response so far, Kinderson informed that a recent representation had set today (Nov 10) as the deadline failing which the agitations would go ahead.
He also mentioned of the bodies prepared to enforce economic blockade on the two Highways connecting Manipur to other States in case the proposals are not considered favourably.
other agitations announced by Kinderson include boycott of candidates of the Ninth State Legislative Assembly, and intense campaign to seclude candidates and those political parties favouring construction of the Tipaimukh Dam project.
He also declared that the Chief Minister would be held responsible for any untoward incident that takes place during the agitation period.