Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed to stop collecting money on the pretext of the prevailing Manipur violence. He has warned of legal actions against perpetrators especially those who collect money from commuters on the highways. During the Zero hour of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly 5th Session on Monday, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah raised concern over the bandh called along Imphal-Ukhrul road by transporters and passenger vehicle service providers in the wake of alleged collection of money by valley based CSOs.
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Responding to the matter in connection with another calling attention motion in the house, Chief Minister Biren said that the state government is making all out efforts to protect the lives of common people and urged those concerned to stop making nuisance by collecting money from commuters in the name of donation for the ongoing Manipur crisis.
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N Biren Singh maintained that Manipur is inhabited by various communities and the state is not for just one community. He appealed all to refrain from carrying out any such activities which affects another community. The CM then added that the state government is taking necessary security measures by equipping the state forces to aid them in maintaining law and order. He said that the state government recently procured bullet proof vehicles for the state security forces.
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It maybe mentioned that Ukhrul based Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trucks, Wingers, DI, and Other Taxi Service Associations has called an indefinite bandh along Imphal-Ukhrul road starting March 6 against “illegal collection of taxes in the name of donation.”
The JAC has accused CSOs including “All Manipur Pony Conservation Forum and All Manipur Youth Welfare Federation” of collecting “illegal taxes” in the name of donation from passenger vehicles like buses, wingers and pick-up trucks etc. which ferry essential commodities.
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