Modi's statement akin to adding fuel to fire : Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04 2024: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no intention to bring peace in Manipur and the statement given by him (Modi) in the Rajya Sabha on the Manipur crisis was akin to adding fuel to fire.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today, Ibobi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for about 7/8 minutes in the Rajya Sabha on the Manipur crisis though he did not bother to address the Lok Sabha on the same issue but his speech could not soothe the suffering people of Manipur in any way.

Narendra Modi stated that 11,000 FIRs have been registered and around 500 people have been arrested.

Modi's statement akin to adding fuel to fire : Ibobi

But it is not clear whether the FIRs are meant to facilitate payment of compensation to families whose houses have been burnt down or the FIRs were registered against culprits of the violence, Ibobi remarked.

Quoting the Prime Minister's statement that the situation has been improving, schools have been opened and exams held, the former Chief Minister asked what kind of normalcy Narendra Modi was referring to.

He went on to ask if the ruling party has any intention to keep Manipur burning.

The Prime Minister mentioned something like holding dialogue among the Central Government, the State Government and stakeholders but again it was not clear what kind of dialogue Modi was talking about, Ibobi said.

Narendra Modi did not say anything on how to resolve the 14 months old conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo tribes.

Congress party and all constituent parties of INDIA Bloc have no intention to take political advantage out of the Manipur crisis, Ibobi said.

Maintenance of law and order and protection of citizens' life and properties are State subjects.

However, following the miserable failure of the Government of Manipur on these fronts, people have started asking if there is a responsible Government in the State, said the CLP leader.

Even the Supreme Court has observed that the State Government has failed completely.

The State Government has failed miserably to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

However, when people pointed out this failure, the Government has been conveniently blaming the previous Congress Government, he continued.

It is not clear whether Article 355 is in force in Manipur or not.

The Union Home Minister held a high level meeting with the Security Advisor, the DGP and the Chief Secretary as if there is no elected Government in the State.

Considering these facts, it is uncertain if the incumbent State Government has any moral right to continue in office, Ibobi said.

The unified command of security forces in any State is always headed by the Chief Minister.

But it is not clear if Chief Minister N Biren is the head of the State's unified command at the moment.

If the Ministers and ruling MLAs are genuinely concerned about the suffering of the people, they should go to Delhi together and exert strong pressure on the Central Government, he said.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up a night at Kaziranga, Assam, he did not bother to pay a visit to neighbouring Manipur even for a few hours, the CLP leader decried.

INDIA Bloc and other Opposition parties have met the Governor several times and requested her to take an appointment with the Prime Minister but the Governor is yet to take an appointment with the Prime Minister, he continued.

When any serious issue broke out in Manipur during the time of the Congress Government, the Chief Minister's Office wrote to the Prime Minister's Office for a meeting between the Prime Minister and an all-party delegation from the State, and the PMO would arrange the meeting within a week, the former Chief Minister stated.

Thus the issues were resolved or controlled after talking at the level of the Prime Minister, he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Manipur for three days while the Union Minister of State for Home stayed here for around one week.

Amit Shah even announced a committee headed by the Governor, Ibobi recalled before asking if the committee has been constituted.

He went on to ask if the committee has achieved anything, in case any such committee has been constituted.

The Central Government is totally indifferent to the Manipur crisis.

It appears the Centre does not care even if all the people are slaughtered.

If what is happening in Manipur took place in any big State, the violence would have been controlled months back, Ibobi said.

INDIA Bloc Manipur never asked the President or the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister to impose President's Rule in Manipur.

INDIA Bloc Manipur's common desire is restoration of peace and normalcy in the State, he asserted.

Naga-Kuki clash as well as Meitei-Pangal clash took place when there were Congress Governments in the State but there was no restriction on the movement of one community to the place of another community.

However, Meiteis and Kukis cannot go to each other's places at the moment despite the presence of the BJP's double-engine Government, Ibobi decried.

He then urged the double-engine Government to chart out a road map for restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur through dialogue.

CPI Manipur State Council former Secretary L Sotinkumar remarked that the statement given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur crisis in the Rajya Sabha did not make any sense.

He also urged the Government to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the two parties in conflict so as to resolve the crisis.

It appears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not care even if Manipur breaks apart, Sotinkumar said.