IMPHAL, May 28 NNN : Calling the recent eviction drive carried out in Kabo Leikai, Naga River here by Manipur Government ‘very destructive’ the FATYCM Tuesday cautioned all the communities in the state that the Government might take up such steps anywhere.
Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) alleged that Manipur Government used fraud and coercion to take the land of Kabo Leikai and insisted that the residents being valid pattadars have been living there for the last more than four decades paying regular taxes to the Government.
It further condemned the recent statement of Chief Minister O Ibobi that the encroachers in Kabo locality were forced to vacate by a Government order for expansion and modernizatio of Imphal Hotel in the area.
Ibobi had also claimed that the Kabo Leikai was ‘khasland’ and that the residents or encroachers there were not legitimate pattadars.
FATYCM added that the Government should have made proper arrangement prior to what the federation called as ‘forced eviction’ of Kabo residents.
The federation, however, said it welcomes all kinds of development plans by the Government while suggesting it to take up plans such as construction of a 5-star hotel in areas like Mantripukhri where plenty of lands are found.
“But it may not be a right and thoughtful move to plan for construction of a luxurious hotel or modernisation of Hotel Imphal in the Kabo area,” the federation added.
Any infrastructure development must be taken up in suitable areas and not in densely populated areas, it said, adding any Government policy must not be its own choice that disregards the sentiment of the public.
Accusing the state Government of being ‘anti-religious’ it also reiterated that three churches and one temple were demolished during the eviction drive in the Kabo Leikai. FATYCM asked whether the present Government in Manipur is people-friendly’ or anti-people and termed the eviction policy of the Government as ‘aggressive.’
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fatycm-opposes-eviction-works/
