CCM questions wisdom of holding polls now
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2017: Citizens' Committee, Manipur (CCM) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to study the wisdom of pushing for election before "defusing the escalating ethnic tension" in Manipur.

Apprising Sudeep Jain, the Director General of the Election Commission of India today in Imphal, CCM said that the time is not conducive to hold election in Manipur.

"We are happy to learn that the Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair election.

However, we feel that the arrangement elaborated is more of a technical nature.

The installation of CCTV, webcasting and presence of paramilitary at the polling stations alone can never ensure free and fair election, as experienced in the past.

Subsequent to more than hundred days of economic blockade, an emotionally charged socio-political climate has rendered a politically unconducive atmosphere for democratic participation of the general public in the electoral process," said the CCM members.

Former Chief Minister of Manipur Radhabinod Koijam is the chairperson of CCM while human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam is the convenor.

In their representation to the ECI Director General, the CCM said that the situation has been further vitiated by the ambush yesterday on the Deputy Chief Minister.

"It is also a known fact the elections in the mountain region of Manipur have always been marked by large-scale manipulation and rigging.

"Amidst the escalating ethnic tensions in the last three months, we deeply feel that perfunctorily holding the election by ignoring the ground realities will only lead to aggravating the situation," the CCM added.

"We cannot help but feel a sense of apprehension that the persistence of the economic blockade has resulted in furthering the ethnic polarization and angst amongst the public.

A small spark has the potential to lead to igniting unwanted communal carnage.

The prevailing political blame game makes such a possibility highly probable," the CCM added.

Interestingly, few days ago the United Naga Council (UNC) while saying that "the time is not conducive" to conducting Assembly election in Manipur, had registered its resentment, and organized a 'symbolic protest' during the visit of Sudeep Jain at Senapati headquarters.

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