Ibobi suggests talks at PM level
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2024: Former Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi has suggested that talks should be held between the two warring communities at the level of the Prime Minister or the Union Home in order to explore a solution to the protracted crisis besieging Manipur.

Sharing his observations on the Governor's address given to the State Assembly on February 28, 2024, Ibobi asserted that there will be little defiance when the Centre takes up strong actions with a firm instruction that all the people in both the hills and the valley should give up illegal arms which are in their possession within a week.

Ibobi suggests talks at PM level

After this, the Government should invite representatives of both the warring sides for talks.

At the same time, the Government must take a clear stand to grant all acceptable demands and reject the unacceptable ones, Ibobi said.

"When representatives of Opposition parties met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier, I suggested Amit Shah to intervene and contain the violence raging in Manipur", he said.

Ibobi said that the Congress party supports the initiative to implement NRC in the State.

Pointing out that the atmosphere of Manipur is filled with cries of agony, Ibobi questioned how could the leader of the House claim normalcy has returned in Manipur.

He urged the Ministers and the ruling MLAs to visit the relief camps and interact with the displaced people to understand their plight.

The PM or the Union Home Minister needs to invite both the Meiteis and the Kukis, facilitate dialogue and reconciliation between the two, the former Chief Minister asserted.

Observing that the border fencing work being done by the BRO is going on at a very slow pace, Ibobi asserted that the same work needs to be expedited.

"The Assembly session which starts today will have nine sittings.

Let us pass all the demands with some suggestions in two sittings and let us dedicate the remaining seven sittings to resolving the present crisis," Ibobi suggested.

Those in the relief camps will have no intention to read news reports of the Government tabling the State budget, he said.

During the Naga-Kuki clash and the Meitei-Meitei Pangal clash, there was no exclusion of communities or restriction on movement from one district to another.

But during the current crisis, people are unable to move from one district to another, Ibobi observed.

The Govt of Manipur needs to exert pressure on the relevant authorities to see that the railway line reaches Imphal at the earliest.

Recalling the Chief Minister's declaration to develop Imphal-Jiribam highway to the level fit for landing aeroplanes, the CLP leader asked the Govt to translate the same declaration into action.