Manipur State Panchayat Parishad (MSPP) members on Tuesday clashed with police in front of the Imphal East SP Office during a protest rally. The MSPP members were demanding clearance of pending funds of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the year 2021-2022.
The protest rally began at Khurai Changamdabi Leikai and passed through A-Ka Train. However, while passing the Imphal East SP office gate, a large number of police personnel blocked them, leading to a clash which the police personnel were able to control and the protesters made to return to Khurai Changamdabi Leikai.
Meanwhile, PRI members, who were already in front of DC Imphal East gate, continued the protest rally. Again, the police personnel stopped the protest by blocking both sides.
Protesters held placards which read, “Release fund already sanctioned by the Centre under MGNREGA”, “Conduct Panchayat election in time”, “Establish National Electronic Fund Management System in Manipur” and “Handover the devolution of power to Panchayat”.
In connection with the protest rally, MSPP district secretary Naorem Pradip said the protest is not against the state government but that it is a protest that demands people’s rights. The long demand of releasing full pending wages under MGNREGA is yet to be released, so it turns into a protest, he said.
Regarding the matter, a team of MSPP is in Delhi and even jobcard holders gave the government many deadlines but it was ignored, he added.
Pradip also said that the 6th general panchayat election has been postponed many times with no fixed date. The state government should look into the matter and fulfil the demands, he asserted.
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