Task cut out for state and central governments
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 27, 2023 -
UNION home minister Amit Shah’s assurance to take maximum responsibility for the hill districts and advice given to chief minister N Biren to take steps for restoration of peace in the plains in consultation with civil society organisations (CSOs) including Meira Paibi activists appear to be last ditch effort to encapsulate the N Biren government from the opposition parties’ insistence for replacement of the incumbent chief minister and counteract the growing demand by Kuki CSOs for imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
Apart from reiteration of his appeal to all sections of the society, the warring communities in particular, not to hold any ill-will against one another but to give peace a chance, chief minister Biren told newspersons after returning from New Delhi on Sunday evening that the union home minister has been minutely monitoring the situation in the state under instruction from the Prime Minister.
Though Biren’s conveyance about the central government keeping a watch on the Manipur situation is unlikely to impress many as tension has been gripping the state for nearly two months, gunfights or provocative firing occurring intermittently and women vigilantes in the valley pockets resorting to road blocks to prevent security forces from foraying into the peripheral areas as and when clashes take place, every peace-loving citizen would be hoping that the latest meeting between Amit Shah and N Biren leads to cessation of violence and paves the way for return of peace.
However, with both communities taking to arms to defend or launch attacks, it is obvious that only effective implementation of preventive measures would help in de-escalation of tension.
By not entertaining the demand for imposition of President’s Rule and replacement of N Biren, there is no doubt that the centre has caused serious resentment to those harbouring the idea to project the Manipur violenceas fallout of total collapse of the state’s -machinery.
However, there is no guarantee that New Delhi would continue to back N Biren in case of outbreak of fresh violence, which is also quite possible given the fact that elements baying for his head wouldn’t let up overt or convert campaign to fan the cauldron.
According to the CM, he went to seek advice from the union home minister and to apprise him of the prevailing situation in the state including that there has been no death since June 13 other than some stray incidents of mob violence.
However, merely updating on the semblance of peace returning to the state wouldn’t be satisfactory to the centre as is evident from the Union home minister taking grim note of womenfolk obstructing movement of central security forces in the valley areas.
For now, Amit Shah seems impressed with efforts made by the law enforcement agencies in reduction the number of violent incidents but possibility of the Union government taking drastic action cannot be ruled out for instances of interfering the movement and conduct of search operation by the security forces would be construed as a bid to sabotage the centre’s effort to expedite the confidence building process.
Thus, it is imperative for the chief minister to reach out and convince the public, the womenfolk in particular, to have faith in the security forces.
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