Pherzawl District Chiefs’ Council and Tipaimukh Village Authorities’ Union said Joseph R. Hmar, the current president of Hmar Inpui, does not represent the people of Pherzawl District and is not assigned to convey ‘no objection’ to the re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District
TFM Desk
Pherzawl District Chiefs’ Council (PDCC) and Tipaimukh Village Authorities’ Union (TVAU) have raised objections to the proposed re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District.
In a joint press statement, PDCC and TVAU stated that the Government of Manipur, vide Gazette No. 408 dated 9thDecember 2016, issued a Notification dated 8thDecember 2016, to order the creation of seven new districts in Manipur, which includes Pherzawl District by the bifurcation of Churachandpur District. Pherzawl District has four sub-divisions –Pherzawl, Thanlon, Parbung-Tipaimukh and Vangai Range, they added.
The statement said PDCC and TVAU have come to know that self-styled ‘Committee for Protection of Churachandpur District’ (CPCD), vide their petition dated October 25, 2017 had written to the Chairman/Member Secretary, District Boundary Commission, Imphal, to take cognizance of the bifurcation of Vangai Range and Thanlon sub-division from Churachandpur District and that the two subdivisions should not be taken away from Churachandpur District while demarcating the boundary of the newly-created Pherzawl District.
They were shocked and saddened to know that the said petition was endorsed by the then president of Hmar Inpui Joseph Lalrothang and general secretary of Hmar Inpui Francis Songneilien Songate, it added.
The statement stated that thereafter, a clandestine Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) dated April 23, 2018 was jointly signed by a group with vested interests. The signatories include Joseph Lalrothang and Francis Songneilien Songate of Hmar Inpui. The MoA conveys ‘no objection’ to the re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District.
In furtherance to the said MoA, current president of Hmar Inpui Joseph R. Hmar wrote a letter dated November 22, 2021 to Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh stating that Hmar Inpui has ‘no objection’ to the re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District and creation of a new office of Additional Deputy Commissioner in the jurisdiction of Thanlon sub-division, they said.
PDCC and TVAU, Pherzawl District said that endorsement given by Joseph Lalrothang and Francis Songneilien Songateon the petition of CPCD in October 2017, and signatures appended by them on the clandestine MoA dated April 23, 2018, do not signify the agreement and acceptance of the people of Pherzawl on the proposed re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District.
Alleging that the MoA dated April 23, 2018was executed in secrecy and without consulting the people of Pherzawl, who are the main stakeholders, they said the Government of Manipur may deem the clandestine MoA as null and void, and should not be considered for concluding a Cabinet or high-level decision.
Further PDCC and TVAU, Pherzawl District said Joseph R. Hmar, the current president of Hmar Inpui, does not represent the people of Pherzawl District and is not assigned to convey ‘no objection’ to the re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District. “Therefore, his letter dated November 22, 2021, addressed to the Chief Minister should be treated as unfounded and void,” they said.
PDCC and TVAU, Pherzawl District urged the Government of Manipur to enhance peace and tranquility in Pherzawl District and to not to allow re-amalgamation of Thanlon sub-division to Churachandpur District merely to satisfy vested interest. “The Government may kindly take a compact view and agree to the suitability, economic viability and administrative convenience in the current state of the district with the existing subdivisions –Pherzawl, Thanlon, Parbung-Tipaimukh and Vangai Range,” they said.
The joint statement was signed by PDCC president Ramsangthang Infimate, PDCC secretary David Thangboi, TVAU chairman Ramsangthang Infimate, TVAU secretary HK Sinate.