New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a member of the National Integration Council has appealed for the reversal of the Manipur government’s decision to displace a Naga village to make way for a five-star hotel.
‘We welcome the Manipur government’s desire to have a five-star hotel at Imphal and it is most needed in the state, especially with view of ongoing ‘Look East’ projects. However, the present 4.5 acres of land occupied by the Imphal Hotel is more than enough for the proposed hotel,’ John Dayal, also the secretary general of the All India Christian Council, said in a statement Saturday.
‘According to notification by the under secretary of the tourism department, it is very clear that the intension of the government is to acquire Naga river village to make way for the hotel and lease out to some wealthy individual,’ he alleged.
The village in question has a population of 500 from all sections of the society, majority of them Christians.
‘The state government has given step motherly treatment to Christian minorities in Manipur. Meitei and Rongmei Christians have been facing all forms of harassment from fellow citizens and the state has failed to provide safeguard to the communities,’ Dayal added.
