Manipur News

IMPHAL, Oct 12: The All Wangjing Development Organisation (AWDO) has threatened to impose an indefinite general strike in Thoubal district from 6pm of October 13 if the police fail to release unconditionally two individuals detained in connection with the death of a VDF personnel.

It may be noted that a VDF personnel was lynched by mob on the night of October 8 accusing him of stealing a bicycle at Wangjing Wangkhei.

In this connection the general secretary, joint secretary of SOCDEC club along with the owner of the cycle was summoned by the police on the pretext of taking their statements. However, the trio was detained by the police and yet to be released, said a statement of the AWDO.

Claiming the trio to be innocent, it condemned the high handedness of the police. At the same time, urged to released the trio before 6 pm of October 13 failing which it warned to imposed indefinite general strike.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/bandh-threatened/

IMPHAL, October 12: All India Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal Md Nadimul today fanned the movement demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System by acknowledging that the demand is legitimate.

The illegal influx of migrants is a strong threat to the indigenous people of the State and the ILPS is the only system which can protect the rich culture and heritage of the State from total distinction, Md Nadimul added.

Addressing a public meeting at the Langmeidong public ground for the party`™s Hiyanglam by-poll candidate Dr Radheshyam today, the MP said they have come with a message from party chief Mamata Banerjee who wants the party to retain the Hiyanglam seat.

Why has the Congress government failed to pass any act or enact a law like the ILPS in the State even after 15 years in power, he questioned.

The implementation of the ILPS should have been the government`™s first priority, he said attacking the Congress.

If the people elect the Trinamool candidate, every issue confronting the State will be taken up in both houses of the Indian Parliament, he assured the public.

Indicating to the boundary issue between India and Myanmar along the international boundary in Manipur, Nadimul said the party will not allow the government to give away even a single inch of India`™s land to any neighboring country including Myanmar.

He said it is common knowledge today that the Ibobi led Congress government has been engaged in buying votes during elections, however, the AITC has a relation with the people based on friendship and love which cannot be bought with money.

This relation will help the party to success, he asserted.

Manipur is also facing the problem of unemployment, he said before adding that it is the party`™s strong demand for the government to set up and encourage industries, schools, and colleges in the State instead of just showing the people fantasies.

The MP also said that Dr Yumnam Radheshyam`™s success in the by-poll will mean a closer relation between the public and the party.

Lok Sabha MP of the party Dr Anupam Hajra said even after 15 years of being in power in the State, the Congress is unable to bring any change.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, known widely as the anti- Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 crusader has been on a fast since 2000 demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, he said before adding that if the party wins the Hiyanglam by-poll, the 46 MPs of the AITC will raise the demand for repeal of AFSPA in both houses of the Parliament.

The party will also raise the Indo-Myanmar border dispute in the Parliament, he said.

Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee president Th Shyamkumar said the recent Congress campaign meeting at the same venue seems to have moved the people in the MPTCC candidate`™s favour.

He said the public has unified in their support for the party candidate since the Congress`™ meeting.

The Congress has been in power for the past 15 years but have done nothing for the constituency, he said before adding that if the party was even a little bit concern of the people, we would not have fielded any candidate for the by-poll.

But we cannot tolerate the exploitation of the people, he continued.

The Hiyanglam by-poll will be the first step of the party towards forming a government in the State, he said before adding that after the next general election in the State, there will be a Trinamool led government here.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/aitc-mp-from-west-bengal-incites-ilps-demand-says-it-is-legitimate/

IMPHAL, October 12: The State government along with the Loktak Development Authority, LDA has been curbing the rights of fishermen and people who are dependent on wetland, said All Loktak Lake Area Fishermen`™s Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM) secretary O Rajen.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club today, he said repressive laws like the Manipur Loktak (Protection) Act, 2006 has been violating the constitutional rights of the fishermen.

Rajen pointed out that as long as the Act is in practice, farmers, fishermen and people dependent on wetland will not be able to live in peace.

He also maintained that the construction of the Ithai Dam has been a bane to many people making many suffer for the last many years.

Further he asserted that the LDA had issued a public notification ordering eviction of huts on phumdis (floating biomass) on the Loktak Lake under Section 19 and 20 of the Manipur Loktak Lake (protection) Act, 2006.

However, there is no section in the entire Act that empowers the LDA for such eviction and that the act of issuing eviction notice itself is ultra vires and uncalled for, he contended.

Rajen also lamented that the fishermen of the Loktak Lake and wetland dependents are traumatised following the atrocities meted out to them by the LDA authorities and Manipur police.

Continuing his charges against the LDA, Rajen said the authority is working in their vested interest and not for the development of the lake. Thus ALLAFUM strongly demand the repeal of the Manipur Loktak Lake Act; decommissioning of Ithai barrage; building spin way for aquatic animals; treatment of the lake`™s upstream areas; enacting mechanism to prevent fish entry into NHPC main canal, and restoring the biodiversity of the lake.

Rajen informed that memorandum in the same regard has been submitted to the Prime Minister of India, including the Union Home Minister; Law Minister, Agriculture Minister, Union Minister of State for environment, Lok Sabha MP (Inner Manipur), the Governor of Manipur, Chief Minister and other concerned authorities of the State.

Other members of ALLAFUM were also present during the press meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/loktak-protection-act-violates-constitutional-right-of-fishermen/