12th Manipur Assembly discusses bandh called by Sapo

Our Correspondent

Imphal, March 26 (EMN): The indefinite bandh of National Highway-2 called by the Southern Angami Public Organisation (Sapo) was discussed on the last day of the three-day long first session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday.

An attention motion on the issue was raised by Congress MLA K Ranjit Singh of Sugnoo Assembly Constituency under Kakching district after Chief Minister N Biren Singh tabled the Manipur Nursing Council Rules, 2008 in the house.

Informing the 60-member house that the Manipur government had sent a letter to Nagaland Chief Secretary on March 23, Singh quoting the letter said the structure and armed personnel of the state forces were ‘deployed within the territorial jurisdiction’ of the Manipur state.

The Manipur government also requested the Nagaland authority to take up the matter with the representatives of Sapo for the welfare of the public.

Apart from initiating talks with concerned stakeholders, the government has also taken up alternative means to bring back the stranded Manipur-bound passengers, he added.

Earlier, the World Meetei Council had appealed to end the road blockade in the Angami dominated areas on National Highway-2 in the larger interest of all the native people in the region.

It may be mentioned that SAPO, who had imposed total bandh within Southern Angami jurisdiction from March 21-23 in protest against the failure Manipur government to withdraw its security personnel from Kezoltsa area, had decided to extend its ongoing bandh to an indefinite bandh with effect from March 24 midnight.

The All Assam Manipuri Youths Association (AAMYA) in a press statement suggested Sapo to withdraw the indefinite bandh in the interest of the people at the earliest as ‘there is always a peaceful and democratic way out of a problem however grave it may be’.

Earlier, during the last day of the Manipur assembly, two Manipur Appropriation Bills –the Manipur Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2022 and the Manipur Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2022 — were also passed.