WMC questions Biren's approach to Lalduhoma for mediator's role
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2024: Taking strong exception to Chief Minister N Biren Singh seeking the help of his Mizoram counterpart to resolve the crisis in Manipur, the World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged the Chief Minister to step down and appoint someone from among the ruling MLAs who can end the Chin-Kuki-Zo aggression without 'selling-out' the interest of the Meetei people.

The WMC, in a statement signed by its chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam, said that N Biren Singh seeking the help of Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma who is seen as the father figure of Kuki-Zo people to mediate and resolve the crisis in Manipur is akin to surrendering to the same group of people who are hostile towards Meeteis.

The council said that they have come across a media report which states that the Mizoram Chief Minister has accepted the proposal of N Biren Singh and he (Laldu-homa) will visit Manipur.

N Biren Singh requested the Mizoram Chief Minister to mediate in order to resolve the crisis in Manipur as he knows Chin-Kuki people have snubbed him but will listen to Lalduhoma who is seen as a father figure to them, the WMC said.

Inviting Lalduhoma to make peace between the warring communities, however, shows that N Biren Singh and his Cabinet have run out of ideas to restore normalcy in Manipur without surrendering to the Chin Kuki people who are hostile towards Meeteis, it added.

It is nothing short of the proverbial "Shamuna talaklabadi shamugi mayada chensillu," which roughly translates as "if an elephant chases you, run towards its mouth," the council said referring to N Biren Singh's proposal to his Mizoram counterpart.

Saying that they have also come across some people criticising Outer MP Alfred K Arthur for his speech on the floor of Parliament and also accused him of taking the side of Chin-Kuki people, the WMC asked if there is any reason why people should not say N Biren Singh is selling out the interest of Meetei people by inviting Lalduhoma to restore peace in Manipur if what the Congress MP said was biased.

Further stating that they are thankful to the Mizoram Chief Minister for agreeing to mediate, the council added that Lalduhoma, however, should have convin- ced N Biren Singh to take the help of a neutral leader instead like the Assam Chief Minister to work out a solution to the crisis in Manipur if he is a man of integrity.

The council went on to state that N Biren Singh seeking the help of Laldu-homa is akin to surrendering to Chin Kuki perpetrators.

Continuing that there may be someone from among the ruling MLAs who can resolve the crisis in the State without taking the help of the father figure of the Chin Kuki people, the WMC urged the Chief Minister to step down in the interest of the people and appoint someone who posses the quality of a leader to take his place and let him/her end the sustained war being waged by Chin-Kuki-Zo militants and their supporters.

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