No to PR, separate admin call rung out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 24 2023:
President's Rule shouldn't be imposed in the State or the Chief Minister changed, said Nupi Samaj president Thokchom Ramani.
She said this during a sit-in demonstration at Hei- rangoithong community hall today.
The sit-in against "separate administration" and "narco-terrorism" was organised by the Social Welfare Club, Heirangoi-thong and Heirangoithong Apunba Lup at the locality's community hall.
Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the sit-in protest, Th Ramani said the present crisis was caused by "Chin-Kuki infiltrators, people involved in drug business supported by the Kuki militant groups" .
Amid the present situation, imposing President's Rule or changing the Chief Minister will be against the interest of the people, she said.
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The Chin-Kuki infiltrators and the militants started the violence in retaliation to the steps taken up against drug and poppy plantation.
The Chin-Kuki people who have infiltrated into Manipur and their militants were/are "involved" in the widespread cultivation of poppy in the hills.
They have deforested vast forest land to plant poppy, she said.
Coming out against the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not delivering the promises made to bring peace in Manipur, Th Ramani said the people are against all attempts to disintegrate Manipur.
10 Chin-Kuki MLAs have demanded a separate administration.
The remaining 50 MLAs should come together to oppose the demand, she said, urging them to pressure the Centre for effective intervention and bringing peace in Manipur.
Speaking to media persons during the sit-in, Imphal College's retired Principal Laishram Randhoni said the violence was instigated by "drug barons" who armed Chin-Kuki infiltrators in Manipur for area domination to conduct their business more independently.
There have been reports that the poppy cultivation covered more than 1.25 lakh acres of land in Manipur earning the drug barons more than Rs 50,000 crore in a year.
Manipur State's annual Budget is around Rs 35,000 crore only, Randhoni said.
She said there have been many irrefutable proofs of involvement of SoO Kuki militants in the present conflict.
The continued attacks carried out against Meitei villages and the participation of persons armed with AK-47 Rifle in the May 3 Solidarity March in Churachandpur are some of the proofs, Randhoni said.
She further stated that the Kuki militants' hands are suspected to be behind the demand for separate administration, made by 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs.