'Crisis will resolve once people acknowledge their real enemy'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 07 2024: All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) president Nando Luwang has said that the solution to the ongoing violence will come once the people of Manipur collectively realise that their real enemy is the Government of India.

Nando Luwang stated this at the 14th Foundation Day celebration of the Manipur Meitei Pangal Welfare Organisation (MMPWO) held at Hotel Castle, Palace Compound, on Saturday.

The event was attended by Manipur University of Culture's assistant professor Dr Makhonmani Mongshaba as the chief guest, MMPWO president Boboi Korimayum as the president, and Nando Luwang as the guest of honour.

Addressing the gathering, Nando Luwang said the people of Manipur are yet to identify their real enemy, which has led to in-fighting among themselves.

While keeping aside the real enemy, people of the state are concentrating on minor enemies, he said, urging the people to understand and acknowledge that their real and prime enemy is the Government of India.

Once the entire people of Manipur understand their real enemy, there will be a solution to the present crisis, and peace and normalcy will return, he added.

According to Nando Luwang, the Government of India is still playing its 'divide & rule' game with various strategies, and the more than 19-month-long armed conflict between two major communities of Manipur is also part of this game.

There have been numerous unwanted incidents in the ongoing violence, and even infants and women have been killed mercilessly.

When three children and three women were abducted from Jiribam, the government bluffed the people of Manipur by saying that the bodies of 10 Kuki-Zo youth killed by the CRPF would not be handed over unless the abducted women and children were released.

However, all the bodies were sent to Churachandpur by security forces using helicopters, while the lives of the six abducted civilians were not saved.

The Indian Army must hold the responsibility for rescuing Kamalbabu, who went missing from the 57 Mountain Division camp in Leimakhong, but the Indian Army is yet to take moral responsibility to date.

The Indian Army is the fourth largest military power in the world, but it is quite unbelievable that the powerful Indian Army has been unable to contain the violence occurring in a small state, which has lingered on for nearly two years, Nando Luwang said, questioning where the Indian Constitution, the instinct of the Indian Army, and the law courts have gone.

Further questioning why the Government of India remains a silent spectator to merciless killings and dishonour of women, the AMUCO president said the Government of India should intervene and resolve the crisis at the earliest.

In his speech at the event, Boboi Korimayum said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stoic silence and unwillingness to visit to Manipur despite the violence lingering on for more than 19 months is very unfortunate.

The PM's attitude clearly reflects his outlook towards the people of Manipur as second-class citizens of the country.

He also said that elected representatives of Manipur should not remain idle in their posts, as now is the time for them to either lead the people or follow the people, or else the anger of the people will surely be directed at them.

The event was also attended by Federation of Civil Society Organisations, Manipur (FOGS) president Thoidingjam Manihar, Centre for Meitei Pangal Cultural Studies Manipur secretary Dr Raheizuddin Sheikh, MPCM president Altaf Ali, and leaders of different civil society organisations.

Comment