Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 05:
Even as the 12 hour bandh call that severely affected vehicular traffic on the National Highways ended on a peaceful note, the agitation sponsors singled out three student organisations for their defiance to the purpose of the agitation.
Movement of vehicles along NHs 39, 53 and 150 (imphal-Aizawl) virtually came to a standstill, particularly in hill areas barring some sporadic plying of vehicles associated with emergency, essential or ceremonial services due to the bandh, called by five tribal organisations to protest alleged misuse of development funds provided by the Centre for the hill districts.
The agitating bodies Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN), Movement for Tribal peoples' rights Manipur, Sadar Hills Youth Union, All Colleges Tribal Students' Organisation manipur and Tribal Vigilance Forum, manipur imposed the bandh to denounce indifferent attitude of the State Government to its earlier intimations culminating with the demand for roping in services of CBI to investigate the matter.
Conveying gratitude to all concerned for their support, a spokesman Johnson on behalf of the five bodies informed that Governor Dr SS sidhu has officially invited representatives of the agitating bodies to hold talks on August 9."We will wait for the outcome of the proposed meeting and if it is not to our satisfaction then we would convene a meeting to chalk out plans for the next phase of agitation which would be more vigorous," he asserted.
On the other hand, a joint statement of the five bodies issued to the press today described as 'ridiculous and absurd' some student organisations opposing the bandh called against the State Government's failure to address the student issue.
Questioning joint statement of defiance by the KSO, ANSAM and ATSUM the five bodies speculated that the only reason why leaders of the former trio had not endorsed the bandh call might be due to 'something gone wrong'.
Clarifying that necessity had compelled the five bodies to resort to bandh call as their main concern is betterment of the students' community, general secretary of MTPRM Th Kipgen contemplated that opposition to today's movement by the three tribal student bodies have raised doubts whether these organisations are hand in glove with corrupt Ministers and officials in the misappropriation of huge amount of fund specially granted to lift sagging standard of education in the hill districts.
While appealing to Ministers and officials to refrain from instigating student organisations as such clandestine acts to cover up their malpractices tantamount to unnecessary interferences to interest of the students, Kipgen also asserted that the bandh sponsors had been perceiving objections from certain quarters as negative reactions to any genuine cause is not a new phenomenon.
However, frequent interference and attempt to dictate other social organisation will not be tolerated, he declared and urged all concerned to abandon abortive steps and introspect their destructive agenda of shielding the guilty.
Reiterating that ZYF, MTPRM, ACTSOM, SHYU and TVF were constrained to opt for bandh alternative in order point out corrupt elements in the society (Govt), Kipgen posed whether the opposing student bodies could ensure provision of all necessary equipment, infrastructures and requirements of students and schools of the State.