'Foreign insurgent groups interfering in affairs of Manipur'
Cong accuses BJP Govt of planning civil war
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 23 2023: The Congress party has accused the BJP Government of scheming to ignite a civil war in Manipur instead of working to resolve the current ethnic crisis.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, MPCC working president Kh Debabrata while pointing out that the ethnic crisis is now more than 20 days old and all the people are now suffering extreme misery, questioned whether the BJP Government has any hidden agenda for not working to bring peace and normalcy in the State.

Even though the State Government has been claiming that normalcy has returned in the State, incidents of gun violence, arson and conflicts are being reported from different places including the State capital, he said.

'Foreign insurgent groups interfering in affairs of Manipur'

Although it was said that a large number of Central security forces were shipped in to control the crisis, it is not yet clear where these security forces have been deployed, Debabrata said.

Conflicts and confrontations between Kukis and Meiteis at foothills have not stopped and the Government is unable to protect National Highways, he said.

It sounds rather comical of Union Minister of State RK Ranjan to say that he had written to the Prime Minister regarding the ethnic violence instead of seeking a direct appointment with the Prime Minister, he derided.

Being a Union Minister, RK Ranjan could have talked directly with the Prime Minister on the ethnic violence.

Had he done so, everybody would have appreciated him, said the MPCC working president.

A large number of people whose houses have been destroyed are now taking shelter at relief camps under horrible conditions but the Government of India has not spoken a single word.

At the same time, neither the Central Government nor the State Government has provided any ex-gratia to the victims of the ethnic violence, he said.

Militant groups which have been spearheading insurgency outside the State are now interfering in the politics and internal affairs of Manipur.

It would not be wise for the Central Government and the State Government to remain silent when these militant groups have opened camps at different places and are challenging the integrity of Manipur, Debabrata said.

He then urged the State Government to convene a special meeting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the current ethnic crisis.

In the face of the ethnic crisis, the State Government has turned out to be incompetent.

It is unable to ship in essential commodities to the people.

Even if some quantities of essential commodities are being transported on Imphal-Jiribam highway, the highway is in a very bad shape in between Tupul and Imphal, he said.

MPCC vice-president Hareshwar Goswami said that serious crises always erupt in Manipur whenever there are BJP Governments at the Centre and the State.

He said that many Government activities and functions have collapsed on account of the protracted ban on internet services.

Reacting to the Government's claim that normalcy has returned in the State, Hareshwar questioned what kind of normalcy the Government was referring to.

Security forces are unable to protect many tiny villages and hamlets located in the foothills, he said.

He then expressed strong suspicion that the BJP Government has been scheming to ignite a civil war in the State.