Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19 2010:
The JAC for Restoration of Railway Line from Jiri to Tupul has decided to call a 24 hours State-wide general strike with effect from October 25 midnight till the midnight of October 26 in case no positive response is forth-coming by October 23 regarding the grievances reportedly highlighted earlier.
Reiterating their grievances, the JAC said that the initial alignment approved by Chief Minister O Ibobi on January 26 last year has been manipulated abruptly even as construction work based on the initial alignment has been completed partly up to Vangaichungpao village, about15 Kms from Jiribam.
But all of a sudden, the work had to be stopped due to diversion of the alignment towards Kulbung, Thingtuhbung, Oinamlong villages instead of Thingmun, Govakot, Longphailum villages etc.
Knowing that the re-alignment was done at the behest of certain underground elements (under ceasefire with Government of India) by giving false reasons such as submergence by Tipaimukh Dam and shorter distance, people settled along the initial alignment resolved to protest against the new alignment.
Subsequently, the JAC was formed and memoranda were submitted to the Railways authority, Chief Minister and the Union Railway Minister demanding reversal to the initial alignment.
However, there has been no positive response so far, the JAC lamented.
In view of all these facts and circumstances, the JAC is compelled to call the general strike and this would be followed by a series of people's agitation until appropriate, counter measures are taken up, conveyed a press release issued by the JAC.