Quit Kangla cry gains tempo, bandh called

Imphal, June 14: To protest the alleged failure and negligence of the State Government to fulfill the demand of the people for vacating the security forces and preserving the sanctity of the historic Kangla Fort, Meeyamgee Apunba Khongjang Thoupanglup (MAKT) has launched a Quit Kangla Movement and imposed a 24-hour Statewide general strike with effect from midnight of June 20. Announcing this at a press conference this afternoon, spokesman of MAKT, an apex body of various social organizations of the State, RK Ranendrajit said that the prolonged negligence of the Government to shift the security force from the historic Kangla complex despite having taken numerous resolutions is an insult to the people of Manipur, for whom Kangla is not just a historical place but also a sacred site for social and administrative works. Located in the heart of the capital city, Kangla Fort has been the seat of power right from the time of the mythical God-King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba who ascended to the throne in 33 AD till British occupation of Manipur in 1891 during the reign of Maharaja Kulachandra. Assam Rifles has been occupying the fort since British colonial period despite the fact that the area has been declared as protected site and recognised as one of the World Heritage sites. Some portion of the fort has also now been occupied by Indian Reserve battalion. Ranendrajit lamented that instead of shifting Assam Rifles from Kangla, the paramilitary forces have now constructed pucca boundary walls and even the Inspector General of Assam Rifles has now put up at the historical site. If the political leaders of the State fail to resolve the Kangla issue by June 30, the 'humiliated people of the State would force them to resign gracefully in view of their, protected failure to fulfil the people's decades old demand of shifting security forces and preserving the sanctity of Kangla', he added resolutely. Pointing out that the State Govt had already allotted a vast tract of land at Maha Kbireng for the Assam Rifles and construction work for setting up the battalion has also been completed, Ranendrajit wondered why the Assam Rifles is still reluctant to vacate Kangla. The assurance given by the then Union MoU for Home MM Jacob in 1993 for shifting Assam Rifles from Kangla has now become a mockery and the scores of resolution passed by the State Assembly in this regard have become meaningless, he rued. Informing that copies of the memorandum under the subject 'Quit Kangla Movement' has ben submitted each to Governor, Chief Minister, the three MPs, State Assembly Speaker, leader of the Opposition as well as to all the elected representatives, Ranendrajit warned of launching a mass campaign for resignation of all the Ministers and MLAs if the State Govt fails to live up to its commitment. The copy of the memorandum provided to the media persons urged all the political leaders of the State to take full moral responsibility for the 'great betrayal' by the centre towards resolving the long-drawn out Kangla issue. 'It is high time for all of you to join the Quit Kangla Movement to uphold the sanctity of freedom of democracy in the largest democracy of the world, considering the political reality of the insurgency-prone Manipur', the memo said urging the political leaders to put maximum pressure on the Centre for resolving the issue.