Imphal, October 30 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has alleged that the Manipur Government led by Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh “is relentlessly attempting to stir communal disharmony by inciting one community against another community by taking up controversial issues.” Citing plans to declare Sadar Hills as a revenue district and upgrade Jiribam to full-fledged district, the ZYF stated that plans suggested “deliberate intention to vitiate peaceful atmosphere.” In Jiribam’s case, the front claimed that some Zeliangrong villages were being sliced out of Tamenglong district. In a press release, the ZYF asserting that the stand of the Zeliangrong and Naga people on its ancestral land has been already made “very clear” to the State Government on numerous occasions and urged the latter to drop the plans to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged revenue districts. The Youth Front also called for the restoration of Zeliangrong areas to its parent Tamenglong district. It highlighted the Union Ministry of Home directive vide No.9/15/89-CD/CEN dated 14th May, 1990 addressed to R.K Ranbir Singh, the then Chief Minister of Manipur for merger/restoration of Zeliangrong villages to its parent Tamenglong district which are presently falls in Sadar Hills by bifurcation made during the creation of Sadar Sub-Division in Senapati district in 1933. In compliance to the directive, the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Govt. of Manipur issued direction to Deputy Commissioners of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong through “telegram” message marked as “Matter Most Urgent” dated 6/12/1989 for survey of Zeliangrong villages with report to be submitted within 15 days times. Thereby survey had carried out with report already submitted but the State Government failed to take action till date, the front informed and lamented that the State Government instead of restoration of the bifurcated Zeliangrong areas to the parent district was actually trying to take away more areas of Zeliangrong land. This is not acceptable, the ZYF maintained and warned that that it will “react it in befitting manner”. It also cited the constitution of a “Committee on Re-organising of Administrative and Police District Boundaries” (CRAPDB) by the state government in 2011 headed by D.S Poonia, the then State Chief Secretary as the Chairman with Commissioners, Revenue, DGP etc as members authorising the “Committee” to conduct public hearing of “public opinion” regarding the proposed creation of Sadar Hills district. The ZYF stated that it had appeared on September 15 with strong written objection. All the Chiefs and Chairmen of Zeliangrong villages falling within the jurisdiction of Sadar Hills had appeared and submitted their strong objection during the course of the public hearing conducted by the said Committee, it added. ZYF informed of the protests by Zeliangrong people living within the jurisdiction of Sadar Hills under the aegis of a "Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills" leading to the “Mega Public Rally” held on November 17, 2011 in the state capital, Imphal during which a delegation met the Governor of Manipur and a submitted memorandum lodging a strong objection to the state government’s plans. “The State Govt. indulgence of communal politics by instigating one group against another is the root cause of social unrest and trust deficit among the people of various communities of the State,” the ZYF maintained and urged the state government “to stop such anti people policy for the sake of peace”. The Zeliangrong Youth Front further warned that state government would be solely responsible for “any negative consequences” resulting from the episode. Meanwhile, the ZYF has informed that the endorsement of the Zeliangrong people on the decision of the United Naga Council (UNC). In this regard, it directed all the members of the Front to enforce the bandh in total.
