Joykisan prods conscience of Kuki MLAs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 19 2023:
While urging the Kuki MLAs to reconsider their demand for a sepa-rate administration/homeland and instead strive to become the brave sons and daughters defending the unity of Manipur, Thangmeiband MLA Th Joykisan said that if there ever comes a moment of Manipur disintegrating, he will resign from his MLA post and follow in the footsteps of the martyrs and brave hearts and the people in becoming the first to sacrifice his life for a united Manipur.
In a press meet held at his Khoy - athong residence here on Friday, MLA Joykisan said that a leader is someone who understands and acts in accordance with the sentiments of his/her people.
As such, the ongoing communal violence could have led to the separatist demand.
However, one should learn to forgive and forget, he said, while urging the Kuki MLAs to remember their oath to protect a united Manipur and reconsider their separatist decision.
He continued that the violence which began on May 3 has affected every corn-munity in the state.
Amid this, some are trying to gain political mileage, as insinuated in their statements.
But what is important at the moment is to forgive and forget each others' mistakes or there will never be peace.
The state has seen many communal clashes in the past but was able to overcome the same and the communities involved have been living in harmony.
Joykisan further urged the hill MLAs to exercise restraint while also appeal-ing to the valley CSOs to help calm the people.
Even now, many Kuki, Paite and Hmar brethren are living in the valley without fear, all due to the efforts of the valley people and CSOs.
If the people and CSOs in the hills also make the same efforts, there will be no disparity between the hills and the valley.
The people in the valley, instead of scolding the Kuki MLAs for their demand, should help them under-stand the importance of a united Manipur.
Any continuation of the dislike and hatred could push them more into the opposite direction, he said.
Stating that there will be no positive benefit if there is hatred between the communities despite preserving the geographical area of Manipur; the MLA recounted that his vehi-cle was torched while trying to save a Kuki brethren in the valley during the clashes.
However, he is not upset about his vehicle but is proud and happy to save a fellow Manipuri.
Similarly, if the Kuki MLAs were to work under this mindset, it would not take long for peace and normalcy to be restored in the state.
In addition, those who have died or were injured during the violence are all innocent civilians.
Thus, we need to move past all of these, stop blaming one another and instead try to live together in harmony for a united Manipur, he asserted.
Joykisan then said that he will work to protect all the communities residing in the state.
However, if Manipur would ever come to a moment of disintegration, the MLA stated that he would resign from his post and follow the people in the footsteps of the martyrs and brave hearts of Manipur, to become the first person to sacrifice his life for a united Manipur.