Manipur legislators oppose NSF stir with communal tones

Imphal: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thursday opposed the stir launched by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) which they said has a communal tone. Replying to a call attention motion, Mr Gaikhangam said it was unfortunate that the NSF had decided to ban movement of vehicles owned by Meitei and Manipuris in Naga areas.
He said the NSF should understand that Manipur is different from many other states as people belonging to different communities live harmoniously. He added Manipur was served by two Naga chief ministers. He himself is a Naga and the DGP of the state police is a Kuki. The NSF had launched a stir demanding termination of services of those police personnel who frisked their members when they went to attend Lui Ngai Ni festival at Ukhrul.
Gaikhangam said in Manipur even ministers and MLAs are stopped and frisked by army and the Assam Rifles personnel and as the chief ministers of Nagaland and Mizoram were coming to attend the festival security had been tightened and vehicles checked. The vehicles carrying NSF members were stopped at Mantripukhri, Imphal East, and during frisking some of them refused to disembark and started arguing with the police.
The officer on duty, Imtiaz, had intimated the SP, Imphal East, Mr Kamei about the matter and no one was detained after the frisking, it was added.
DGP, Khaute had already instituted an inquiry into the matter and DIG Muivah had gone to Nagaland to discuss the matter with that government, he further said. Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan and other members protested the stir by NSF by targeting a single community of Manipur–the Meitei. Shyamkumar and Joykisan urged the government to take measures to stop the harassment of people travelling on highways by protesters.
The government was also urged to help the drivers of over 100 vehicles which were stranded on the highway due to the stir.
The House also passed demands for grants for Finance amounting to Rs 1144.73 crore, Information,Rs 5.53 crore, Excise Rs 17 crore, Sales tax, Rs 5 crore, Minor Irrigation Rs 136 crore, Social Welfare Rs 283 crore and Relief Rs 22 crore.
Dr Ibohalbi, K Shyam, Ibomcha, Shyamkumar moved policy cut for failure to take up effective economic measures, popularise Information activities, punishment of wrong doers, strengthening tax collection and social security scheme. Public Health Minister Hemochandra said 2752 rural and 47 urban water supply schemes had been taken up and 21.94 lakh people covered by rural scheme and 6.35 lakh urban scheme. (UNI)