In a joint meeting held on Monday at Kangpokpi town, the joint bodies discussed the indifferent attitude of the state government and ultimately decided unanimously to go ahead with its proposed 48-hour total shutdown
TFM Kangpokpi Representative
Many civil society organisations, including Thadou Inpi Kangpokpi, Thadou Students’ Association Sadar Hills, Thadou Womens’ Association Sadar Hills, and Thadou Youth Association Sadar Hills, extended support to the 48-hour total shutdown called by various Kangpokpi bodies in connection with the Asian Highway expansion issue.
Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA), Kangpokpi District Chiefs Joint Coordination Committee on Land Matters (KDCJCCLM), and Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chiefs/Chairmen Association (AHLAVCCA) had earlier served five-day ultimatum to the state government over the Asian Highway expansion issue on December 2 and threatened to impose 48-hour total shutdown in Kangpokpi district if the state government failed to respond within the stipulated time.
In a joint meeting held on Monday at Kangpokpi town, the joint bodies discussed the indifferent attitude of the state government and ultimately decided unanimously to go ahead with its proposed 48-hour total shutdown.
Earlier, in a press conference held at Saparmeina, Lunthang Haokip, Speaker of SAHILCA said that people of Kangpokpi considered the state government’s attitude towards the Asian Highway expansion from Gamgiphai to Kalapahar as a step-motherly treatment as the government allegedly failed to initiate an appreciable measure so far for the expansion of the Asian Highway by resolving issues evolving over it.
He also said that the people of Kangpokpi are very delighted to see development coming in and heartily welcome the road expansion as it will be one of the biggest developments in the district.
He had pointed out that the civil bodies had already had more than five meetings with the government and discussed the various issues in connection with the Highway expansion and alleged that till now no concrete solution has been brought in by the Government rather than applying a delaying policy ignoring the sentiment of the people.
He also maintained that repeated appeals had been made to the state government to give compensation accordingly and start the highway expansion at the earliest but nothing has been initiated till date.
He said that apart from denying the appointment sought to the Chief Minister to discuss the issue for an amicable solution, the government failed to respond to them even after serving an ultimatum.
“Therefore, we have ultimately decided to go ahead with the 48 hours total shutdown which will begin from midnight of December 7 till midnight of December 8,” he added.
Meanwhile, various civil society organizations of the district extended support to SAHILCA, KDCJCCLM, and AHLAVCCA’s shutdown call.
The Thadou bodies of Kangpokpi District including Thadou Inpi, Thadou Students’ Association Sadar Hills, Thadou Womens’ Association Sadar Hills, and Thadou Youth Association Sadar Hills decided to support the shutdown.
While condemning the BJP-led Government attitude towards the people of Kangpokpi district, the Thadou bodies stated that if the BJP Government is truly concerned about the people of Kangpokpi, it must resolve the Asian Highway expansion fiasco and compensate the affected landowners accordingly at the earliest.