Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 16 2008:
MANIPUR'S MP Dr Thokchom Meinya participating in the four hour discussion on the blasts in NE India in October last in the ongoing Lok Sabha said the problem in Manipur couldn't be solved unless it is addressed properly, reports Manipur Information Centre Delhi.
According to MP who was among 23 MPs who took part in the discussion, Insurgency and the issue of territorial integrity are the main root cause of law and order problem in Manipur.
"We cannot solve it unless we address it properly.
A lot of money is going to the State but no work could be done because of the insurgent problem there.
Once this problem is solved, perhaps Manipur will return to its bright future" Dr Meinya said.
MP said, "In Manipur, daily killings had become an appetite for them.
There are many groups of insurgents.
We have been trying to solve this problem.
The Government of India, rightfully started doing something for solving the insurgency problem by promulgating the very infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, right from Nagaland.
Now, it is extended to other parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir, but it is not the solution to the problem so far".
In the beginning of the tenure of this UPA Government, it had formed a Committee under Justice Jeevan Reddy.
It had clearly recommended for the repeal of the Act.
This Act should be repealed because there are many other laws, which could tackle the situation, he added.
Dr Meinya asserted, "Another reason for the insurgent movement in Manipur is because of our territorial integrity.
I have been telling right through the tenure of this Lok Sabha that Manipur and Tripura are sovereign States.
So, when we joined India in 1949, we had very clear geographical boundaries.
There shall be no compromise at all on the territorial integrity of Manipur.
When we join the Union of India, we are a sovereign State".
The MP felt that killings or violence could not solve any problem.
However difficult the problem might be, it always had a solution.
The best solution could be peaceful negotiation, sitting across the table finding a solution by non-violent means.
While replying to the discussion on the situation arising out of bomb blasts in various part of North Eastern states, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday had informed the Lok Sabha that the Government had issued a strong warning to Bangladesh that it could not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities.