ANSAM REFUTES RANJITS CHARGE, CLARIFIES
DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (EMN): The All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) has rubbished branding of ANSAM as NSCN-IM mouthpiece with a view to disintegrate Manipur leveled by K Ranjit terming the statements as ‘opinions to marginalize the failure of the state government’. The association publicity wing in a press statement further pointed out that crying fault and blaming ANSAM of all the miseries with a view to garner the sympathy of the people was irrelevant.
It is rather an attempt to build up communal card and add fuel to the burning fire. Such parochial episode amounts to distorting the tribal issue to cover his incompetence and nexus with some valley based armed group. This is an irresponsible approach which is uncalled for and highly condemnable, the press statement added. Clarifying its stance, the association stated that the present agitation has been carried out through democratic means after the state government failed to respect the sentiments of the tribal people and reject the 3rd Amendment (2008) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971. The imposition of unwanted legislation has become obvious as a clandestine design to marginalize, colonize and systemically annihilates the tribal people’s rights by the state govt. of Manipur, the association affirmed.
It further affirmed that the ongoing people’s movements for amendment to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 have been manifested in clear terms. And that the present inconvenience arising out of the ongoing economic blockade was not intentional but demonstration clearly expressing voicing tribal people interest to secure their rightful place in the democratic set up. After the state government failed to respond the genuine appeal to review the unwanted Act of 2008, ANSAM has been compelled to initiate vigorous steps, the association’s publicity wing stated adding, tribal people cannot accept such wrong and malicious agenda of the state govt. come what may and that the only option left for the tribal people was to outrightly defend their rights.
