Former Minister comes out against selective silence of Govt
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 22 : Former Minister Ningthoujam Biren has criticized the Government's silence on Kuki groups allegedly planting poppies and deforesting Reserved and Protected areas.
He made the accusation during a press meet held at his Phayeng's residence today.
Biren alleged that a section of Kuki people have been encroaching on Reserved and Protected Forest lands, setting up unauthorized villages and roads, planting poppies, and engaging in other illicit activities without any restriction.
Questioning the Government's inaction, Biren asked why no action has been taken against these alleged illegal activities by a section of Kukis.
While people in valley districts are being arrested for quarrying soil from hills for flood-related emergency embankment repairs, the Government remains silent on Kuki encroachments in Protected and Reserved Forest areas, he charged.
What were the Forest officials doing when some Kuki miscreants encroached on Reserved and Protected areas to build roads, he asked.
Biren said that the alleged move by the Government to set up three designated camps of Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact in Kangchup Chiru Reserved Forest area is unfortunate and urged the Government to withdraw the plan.
He demanded that no SoO camps should be set up near Meetei and Naga villages and Reserved Forest areas.
Biren stated that Meeteis' paddy farms at Kanto and Kanto Sabal remain abandoned due to security concerns and urged the Government to ensure safety to resume farming.
He requested the Government to provide compensation for affected paddy lands to offer relief to the farmers.
He also said that the Local Area Development Fund should not be allocated to MLAs since Manipur is under President's Rule with the State Assembly suspended.
IMPHAL, Jul 22 : Former Minister Ningthoujam Biren has criticized the Government's silence on Kuki groups allegedly planting poppies and deforesting Reserved and Protected areas.
He made the accusation during a press meet held at his Phayeng's residence today.
Biren alleged that a section of Kuki people have been encroaching on Reserved and Protected Forest lands, setting up unauthorized villages and roads, planting poppies, and engaging in other illicit activities without any restriction.
Questioning the Government's inaction, Biren asked why no action has been taken against these alleged illegal activities by a section of Kukis.
While people in valley districts are being arrested for quarrying soil from hills for flood-related emergency embankment repairs, the Government remains silent on Kuki encroachments in Protected and Reserved Forest areas, he charged.
What were the Forest officials doing when some Kuki miscreants encroached on Reserved and Protected areas to build roads, he asked.
Biren said that the alleged move by the Government to set up three designated camps of Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact in Kangchup Chiru Reserved Forest area is unfortunate and urged the Government to withdraw the plan.
He demanded that no SoO camps should be set up near Meetei and Naga villages and Reserved Forest areas.
Biren stated that Meeteis' paddy farms at Kanto and Kanto Sabal remain abandoned due to security concerns and urged the Government to ensure safety to resume farming.
He requested the Government to provide compensation for affected paddy lands to offer relief to the farmers.
He also said that the Local Area Development Fund should not be allocated to MLAs since Manipur is under President's Rule with the State Assembly suspended.