By Devesh Gupta
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at his residence here on Sunday to discuss their demand for creation of a full fledged district of Sadar Hills.
While giving a review of their meeting, one SHDDC delegate said Chidambaram had advised Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh to resolve the issue amicably and hold talks with SHDDC leaders.
Chidambaram further added that Sadar Hills matter is unique and cannot be contested.
The delegation had earlier submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Chidambaram expressing their inconvenience on Sadar Hills not being given the authority and the power to function fully as a district and made a subordinate to Senapati District.
The memorandum also stated that the facilities, which are given to a district, are not available to them.
The six Autonomous Hill Districts of Senapati, Sadar Hills, Ukhrul, Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong were created by an act of Parliament in 1971.
“Sadar Hills District Demand Committee was formed 37 years ago and nothing concrete has been done till now and people in the region are not satisfied with it. The region qualifies in every aspect to become a full-fledged district. We have 3 3 constituencies, 3 sub-divisions, 3 MLA’s and the population of the area is also higher than any other district in Manipur”, said Tongkhotang Kipgen, Chairman of the Sadar Hills Chief Association.
Since July 31, the SHDDC has imposed an economic blockade in Manipur. The blockade was initially for seven days but it now transformed into a general strike.
The protestors have blocked National Highways 39,150 and 53, which has massively hit the prices of the essential commodities in the region. According to the latest reports the essential commodity goods are now ferried to the Imphal valley in security cover.
Nearly five people have been killed in the blockade and about 20 people have gone on an indefinite fast unto death since last five days.
C Doungel, one of the members of SHDDC during a news conference in the national capital said: “The blockade will continue until the government agrees to our demands.” He added the longer the blockade continues more will be the damage to the government.
But the Nagas living in the nearby areas have completely ruled out this demand of SHDDC.
Under the aegis of United Naga Council, the All Naga Students Association, Manipur and the Naga Peoples Organisation, Senapati they have completely refused for any kind of bifurcation of any Naga areas without their consent.
Thangkam Lupheng, the Vice President of the SHDDC said,” When Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Senapati was created, we never raised any objection then why these people are raising objections. Till today we have not even tried to contact UNC, though they earlier extended us the moral support before we began our agitations. It is the problem of our people and I advice that the other groups should not interfere into it as it is not their business.”
Sadar Hills has nearly two lakh people and is inhabited by Nepalis, Nagas, Kukis and Meiteis.
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