Centre, state relishing ethnic crisis: Ibobi
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, December 07 2023:
Expressing concern over the protracted ethnic conflict in the state, former chief minister Okram Ibobi has slammed the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state for doing nothing to resolve the situation while observing that both seem to be enjoying untold suffering of the people.
Ibobi made the statement while speaking at the 29th death anniversary of former minister Moirangthem Ibotombi held at Wangjing Kodompokpi Sports Complex, Thoubal on Thursday.
Moirangthem Ibotombi Memorial Charitable Trust organised the observance under the theme "Live and Let Live".
Addressing the gathering, Ibobi said that execution of people in captivity is the most gruesome and inhumane act and he strongly condemns such criminal acts.
The displaced people living in the relief camps want to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
Every human being has a special place for their homes in their heart.
However, they are spending the last seven months in the relief camp in the absence of conducive environment for their resettlement, he pointed out.
Terming the way the whole crisis began as an act of cowardice, he said that killing will not bring any solution and the government should take up immediate measures to restore peace and facilitate resettlement of the displaced people at the earliest.
Floral tributes were also paid to the photos of those killed in the present crisis on the occasion, which was also attended by members of several displaced families.
The trust also distributed 'Moirangthem Ibotombi Memorial Internally Displaced Persons Relief Fund' to two members each of every displaced family living in 30 relief camps set up across Thoubal and Kakching districts.
Around 3000 displaced people received the relief assistance.
Later, around 50 people including members of the trust donated blood as part of the observance.
Trust president and former minister Moirangthem Okendro said that ever since his father was killed by unidentified gunmen 29 years ago, people of Heirok assembly constituency have been spreading the message of peace.
Today, the state is reeling under the heat of an ethnic crisis and people are demanding restoration of peace, he said while urging the government to take up necessary measures for resolving the crisis at the earliest.
Okendro further said that the reliefassistance distributed to the displaced people were donated by beneficiaries of pension scheme sponsored by the trust for the people of Heirok assembly constituency by giving up their pension benefits.
During the Covid pandemic too, the trust formed land bank to provide farming land to landless people.
Moreover, the trust has been providing assistance to cancer patients and medical students of the constituency, he added.