Manipur Government has appealed to the people of the State not to support or encourage any form of bandh.
Special Secretary (Home) to the Government of Manipur, Kh Raghumani Singh, issued an appeal in this regard on Sunday.
The State Government’s statement came out after Joint Action Committee Against Forced Construction of Mapithel Dam (AFCMD) along with other civil organizations and affected individuals proposed 72 hours bandh from the midnight of July 2 to midnight of July 5, 2018.
According to reports available here, AFCMD had submitted a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, the Governor of Manipur and Chief Minister of Manipur last month.
However, there is no response from the government.
Thus, a reminder memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur by AFCMD.
Accordingly, a joint ‘ultimatum’ was served to the Chief Minister of Manipur with a 30 days dateline which expired on July 2, 2018.
However, the State Government statement said while it is sensitive and responsive to the issues related to those affected by the dam, it is also essential that all issues are resolved by peaceful and democratic means and not by such means which cause public inconvenience and disturbance.
While the state government has already compensated the Mapithel Dam affected people, if some people still have genuine grievance, the government shall remain open to peaceful talks and discussion towards addressing all grievances that may be, it added.
On the other hand, the State Government has appealed all stakeholders not to resort to forcible means like bandh and blockade to meet their demands.
All government offices and institutions and public places and the facilities shall remain open and functional during the indicated period.