Dissent grows over HM's silence on SoO, CDS remark
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 31 2023:
Coordinating Com-mittee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has expressed discontentment over the si-lence of union home minister Amit Shah to the demand for termination of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants, as well as the remark of Chief of De-fence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, who termed the conflict as communal riot and not law and order issue.
In a statement, COCOMI said that the present crisis in the state is turning into a grave situation.
People had high hope that the Central government would with-draw SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups, who are terrorising Meetei vil-lages in the foothills on daily basis, as it would end the present crisis.
Unfortunate-ly, the union home minister did not say a single word to the demand withdrawal of the SoO agreement.
Differ-ent sections of the society are feeling hurt as the vi-olence will not subside in the absence of such mea-sures, the statement said while stressing the need for terminating the SoO deal in order to restore peace in the state.
COCOMI also decried the remark made by the CDS General Anil Chauhan, who termed the present con-flict as a mere communal riot.
Refuting the remark, the statement said that the situation is direct fallout of the violation of SoO ground rules by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo militant groups, who are bringing in their cadres from across the border to wage the war.
It is execution of a well-planned policy formulated by intellectuals and those in political powers from among the Kuki community.
The Indian Army must have detailed information of the actual situation through its intelligence source which the CDS should have perused minutely before making such uncorroborated remark.
The statement thanked Meira Paibi members of dif-ferent communities for their night vigil and assistance towards the displaced peo-ple.
It, however, appealed to the general public to refrain from blocking roads as it will only affect people in med-ical emergency, essential services and other security services as well.