Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 15:
Even as the 24-hour general strike against the killing of Indrasen by PULF for ransom concluded today without any major incident, the All Manipur Students� Union (AMSU) has announced its decision of calling another State wide general strike with effect from midnight of January 17 to 6 pm the following the day over Bishnupriya issue.
The student body has threatened to go ahead with the agitation if the Government of Manipur fails to do what it ought to do in connection with the case pending in the Supreme Court challenging the recognition granted to Bishnupriyas as Bishnupriya Manipuris by the Assam and Tripura Governments by 4 pm of January 16.Addressing a press conference at AMSU Head office this afternoon, president of the student body Sinam Prakash accused the State Government of backtracking from its earlier commitment of resolving the issue once and for all.
Contrary to the commitment given earlier to meet all the required expenditure in fighting the legal battle, the State Government has not even taken up any of the necessary measures till date, Prakash lamented.
The silence and indifferent attitude being maintained by the Government on such a serious issue is unnerving, he said, while questioning whether Chief Minister O Ibobi has been bribed by the Bishnupriyas to keep mum over the sensitive issue.
Observing that AMSU would be constrained to go ahead with the general strike if the Government fails to its duty within 4 pm of January 16, Prakash said, electricity, medical, water supply, religious function and press would be exempted from the purview of the proposed general strike.
AMSU vice president Elangbam Ratankumar who also addressed the press conference said Bishnupriyas who were known as Kalisha have been claiming themselves as the original settlers of Manipur with the malicious intention of wiping out the Manipuri people completely.
Endorsing the claim of the Bishnupriyas, the Assam and Tripura Governments recognised them as Bishnupriya Manipuri and introduced their language in the schools apart from providing the facilities entitled to OBCs, Ratankumar said.
Challenging the recognition granted to Bishnupriyas as Bishnupriya Manipuris by Tripura Government in 1987 followed by Assam Government in 1999, one Kumardhon filed a case in the Gauhati High Court in 1999, but the Court passed the verdict against the Manipuri people who have more than two centuries old history behind, he rued.
Though the case had been defeated in the Gauhati High Court, the Committee Against the claim of Bishnupriya which was formed with representatives from Government of Manipur, AMSU and Manipuri people from Assam and Tripura filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the ruling of the High Court.
The State Government had also given its assurance to the Committee to meet all the required expenditure in fighting the case, he recalled.
The final hearing of the case pending in Supreme Court was scheduled to be held on January 10 last but as the case could not be taken up on that day, the final hearing is likely to be given on January 17, he informed.
Around Rs 2 to 3 lakhs would be required as litigation fee of the lawyer who would be fighting the case.