IDPs pin hope on Rahul Gandhi to address key issues of Manipur
Performance in Parliament acknowledged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2024: A day before Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Manipur for the third time during the conflict, internally displaced people have placed faith in him to address key issues that are prolonging the conflict.

Appreciating the Opposition leader for raising Manipur issues in the Parliament recently, the internally displaced folks said Rahul Gandhi must take the lead in pushing for abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement and implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC)--issues they say are key to ending the more than a year-old conflict.

IDPs pin hope on Rahul Gandhi to address key issues of Manipur

"Rahul Gandhi has spoken on the Manipur crisis in the Parliament.

We welcome and appreciate him for his concern for the people of Manipur.

We want him to continue speaking on Manipur and raise issues that are crucial for ending the conflict," said Leichombam Thasana, an inmate of a relief camp opened at Leimaram Government High School.

Thasana is one of 241 internally displaced people staying at the relief camp since the beginning of the conflict in May, 2023 .

Representing the inmates of the relief camp during a press meet held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, Thasana sought the attention of Rahul Gandhi and asserted that the clashes were not started by the Meiteis, who are indigenous people of the State.

She said the conflict was fuelled by armed Kuki militants, and organised attacks on Meitei settlements in several districts since May 3, 2023 have displaced thousands of people.

Even after a year, the conflict has not been resolved, and people who have been forced out of their homes are unable to return to their villages and resettle, she said.

The people at relief camps across the State want to go home to their villages and live normal life.

For this, those in the ruling as well as the Opposition must address issues that are plaguing and robbing the State of peace, she added.

Thasana said one of the main factors that is contributing to and fanning the conflict is the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement, signed between Kuki militant organisations and Government of India and Manipur Government.

The SoO agreement emboldens the Kuki militants to organise attacks on the civilians and prolong the conflict.

Rahul Gandhi, who is now the Opposition leader, must take up this issue with the Centre.

The agreement must be scrapped completely to curb violence, she said.

Thasana said watching Rahul Gandhi speak in the Parliament about Manipur gives them strength.

While there are many factors fuelling the conflict, addressing the issue of illegal immigration is crucial.

The Opposition leader must push for implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to identify and deport all illegal immigrants, she said.

Further, Any Kuki Tribe must be removed from the ST list, and volunteers who are defending their own villages from Kuki militants' attacks must not be harassed, arrested and harmed, Thasana added.

While the displaced people at the relief camp have already submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu to abrogate SoO, implement NRC, remove Any Kuki Tribe from ST list and refrain from harming village volunteers, Thasana said people are also hoping that Rahul Gandhi push for these issues to be addressed and bring about normalcy and peace in Manipur.