O Ibobi lambasts State Govt's 'timidity'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 09 2019: Ex-Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has asked what is the use of being a Chief Minister or a Minister if one cowers in fear of the Central Government and tries to save only his/her post even when the fate of Manipur and its territorial boundary are under serious threats.

Speaking to media persons at his residential quar- ters at Babupara today, Okram Ibobi conveyed that if the geographical boundary of Manipur is affected in anyway, then there is no more use of politics or administration.

If there is any attempt to harm the interests of the State, then the Congess par-ty will not remain a silent spectator, he announced.

O Ibobi lambasts State Govt's 'timidity'

Till date, the people are still in the dark regarding the conclusion to the Naga peace talk.

The people are completely unaware of even a single point of the terms of agreement reached between the involved parties but many are reporting that only a formal ceremony of signing the agreement is left for the peace talk to conclude.

This has resulted in fear and apprehension among the people, Ibobi lamented.

The Congress party wholeheartedly welcomes a peaceful solution to the protracted Naga political solu- tion, Ibobi said, cautioning that however, the solution cannot, in any way, affect the geographical boundary of Manipur which has been there since time immemorial.

He then said that it is shocking and disappointing at the same time to hear the lacklustre clarification by the State Government that the large number of security forces being airlifted into the State are those who were already deployed in the State but went to Haryana for election duty and Assam in the wake of publication of NRC and that the people need not panic.

Ibobi expressed suspicions that the Centre might be making such war like security arrangements in the State anticipating a fierce backlash from the people and to control the resulting law and order situation as and when the Naga Accord is officially sealed.

He further alleged that the State Government is seemingly kept in the dark by the Centre on the terms of agreement reached with NSCN-IM.

He went on to question as to when the State stakeholders and political parties will be called by the Centre for due consultation.

Stating that the final pact might contain some points which will not be acceptable to the people, Ibobi accused the State BJP of cowering in fear before the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, as indicated by its unwillingness to call a special Assembly session.

The State Government seems to be too afraid to act against the orders of the Centre due to fear of losing power.

The leaders themselves seem reluctant to call for a special Assembly session as they regard their posts as far more important than the motherland, he alleged.