CM giving conflicting causes of clash: Ibobi
'Govt has failed in every aspect'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13 2024: People are fed up with the BJP led Government in Manipur as they have failed in every aspect, said former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

He made the statement during Patriots' Day organised by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) at Congress Bhavan today.

At the observance, Ibobi, the CLP leader, led Congress MLAs - K Meghachandra, K Ranjit, Th Lokeshwar, Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam, ex-MLAs, exMinisters and party leaders in paying floral tributes to the statue of Bir Tikendrajit and the portrait of Thangal General at Congress Bhavan.

Responding to media queries during the observance, Ibobi said that the Government has failed to enforce law and order in the State.

Everyone knows that law and order is a State subject, the former Chief Minister continued and added the State Government, however, seems to be unaware of the fact that it is them who should enforce law and order in order to restore normalcy in Manipur.

Accusing the State Government of making random statements pertaining to the crisis in Manipur, Ibobi recounted how Chief Minister N Biren Singh attributed different factors as the root cause of the unrest which is contradictory to one another Though the Chief Minister had on multiple occasion said the unrest was sparked due to section of people opposing the Government's campaigns against illegal immigrants, War on Drugs campaign and encroachment, he recently changed his observation by stating that it was the Manipur High Court's directive which asked the State Government to send the recommendation to grant ST status to Meeteis that triggered the series of violence, Ibobi said.

Saying that a Cabinet resolution was already taken to reorganise police and facilitate boundary adjustment while they were in power, Ibobi clarified that seven new districts in Manipur were created during their time to bring about administrative convenience and not to score political mileage.

Further stating that the State is falling behind in every field due to the ongoing crisis, the former Chief Minister continued that Manipur is one of the leading States in terms of unemployment and inflation.

Ibobi maintained that the State Government has been administering the State by taking loans time and again.

Cautioning that the interest of all these loans will burden the future generation of Manipur, Ibobi reiterated that the State Government is now detested by the people.

He appealed to the Government to exercise its authority and enforce law and order in the State.

The Supreme Court had also said that law and order in Manipur had failed completely and Constitutional machinery has collapsed, Ibobi recounted.

Maintaining that the BJP led State Government is in power due to the verdict given by the people, Ibobi urged the MLAs of the ruling party to seek an appointment to meet the Prime Minister and work out a solution to restore normalcy in the State.

Meanwhile, Ibobi said that people in both the hill and valley districts should strive to keep the State intact as envisaged by 'our forefathers'.

Deputy CLP leader K Ranjit said that the Chief Minister criticising the Congress party for staging a walk out during the House session on Friday and not attending the last sitting yesterday was unfortunate.

He said that legislators walking out from the House when a demand or motion they tabled for discussion is ignored by the majority party is a step in the right direction.

Asking why the ruling party is so much against the five Congress MLAs staging a walkout as it was done so in accordance with Constitutional provisions, Ranjit said that the MLAs of the ruling party should have been ashamed of the Congress skipping the Assembly session if they know how democracy works.

The Congress leader further said that the ruling party spreading falsehood pertaining to creation of new districts was unfortunate.

Understanding the root cause is imperative to resolve the crisis in Manipur, he said and added that the State is in a very worrisome situation.

He also said that the Prime Minister is unlikely to give any appointment to meet them as he (Narendra Modi) doesn't even give the appointment to the MLAs of the ruling party.

Comment