Students fighting 'war' heartbreaking: Ibobi
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 05 2024:
Seeing students, who are the future pillars of the society, fighting the 'war' has left me shattered as well as ashamed of being an MLA who they elected as their leader, exclaimed opposition leader and former chief minister O Ibobi Singh on Tuesday.
Ibobi proposed deliberation on the present crisis in state during discussion on matter of public interest in Tuesday's session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Moving the motion, Ibobi pointed out that as all major wars ended through negotiations, the crisis in Manipur should be resolved and peace restored through the dialogue process, by involving a neutral party, meriting urgent intervention of the government of India.
However, state and central governments have not taken any steps to bring warring groups to a negotiating table and solve the crisis, rued the former CM, who further enquired whether the central government is relishing both communities killing each other.
Maintaining that it is prerogative of central government to end the protracted crisis in Manipur, O Ibobi said that there is high possibility of both the warring groups dropping their weapons if the centre issues stern warning in case the parties in conflict do not surrender their weapons and negotiate.
However, as no such steps have been initiate till date it is obvious to question sincerity and commitment of New Delhi to safeguard lives and properties of the people.
Ibobi said he felt ashamed of being an MLA seeing the students and meira paibi activists coming out of their homes to take part in the 'war' and openly or covertly seeking monetary assistance to purchase weapons and bullet proof vests.
Ibobi also informed the House that the previous government had not done anything wrong in renaming Thangjing to Thangting for administrative convenience, the name which was later removed again after the truth surfaced.
Ibobi also clarified on order of the court over inclusion of four gram panchayats in Kangpokpi and the official documents over inclusion of five villages in Moreh under ADC as brought up in the Assembly.