Govt sponsored violence, says Gaikhangam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2024: Senior Congress leader Gaikhangam has accused the Government of sponsoring the violence in Manipur which has been going on since May 3 last year.

He also said that it would be very wrong for the Government to treat the people of Manipur like some sort of insects.

Speaking to a group of media persons at his residence at Mantripukhri today, Gaikhangam, the former Deputy Chief Minister and member of Congress Working Committee (CWC), continued that the violence in Manipur is State sponsored and controlling it would be very simple if the Government is committed.

To a query, he elaborated that Manipur is a very small State and tension is high between the two warring communities at only some areas so resolving the crisis would take only a week or two if the Government shows some seriousness.

Govt sponsored violence, says Gaikhangam

The violence should be controlled first and the solution can come later, Gaikha- ngam advised.

He went on to state that the Government could have averted the violence in the first place.

Even if the violence broke out due to lapses in the Government machinery, it still could have been controlled within a time frame, the Congress leader said.

Saying that the Centre and the State Government need to put in maximum efforts to stop the bloodshed first, Gaikhangam added that no one would dare to resort to violence if the Government takes actions against every scoundrel.

Dialogue can take place when there are no more cases of violence, he further advised.

Saying that the Government has miserably failed to resolve the crisis, the Congress leader claimed that the Government hasn't taken up any sincere initiative to restore normalcy.

He also accused the Central Government of not put- ting in any sincere effort to end the conflict.

While advising the State Government to exercise its power and work out a solution to the ongoing crisis, Gaikhangam added that Chief Minister N Biren Singh should not remain silent over the Centre conducting a review meeting on Manipur in his absence .

The Congress leader further said that the State Government should not try to fool the people by giving random excuses over the Centre not inviting the Chief Minister to the meeting.

The meeting was a high level meeting and it was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said.

He further stated that the Chief Minister should have stood against the convening of the meeting in his absence by even threatening to resign from his post and send a message to the Central leadership.

Discussing Manipur in a high level meeting without the Chief Minister was absurd, Gaikhangam added.

When asked about the situation in Jiribam, the Congress leader responded that the armed Kuki miscreants cannot do anything if the Chief Minister takes up some bold actions.

He continued that Jiribam is a small district and the lives and properties of the people will be secured if the Government sends some 200-300 State security forces in the border district and let them take up concrete security measures.

Saying that the State forces have grown in numbers with the figure standing at around 40,000 now, Gaikhangam added that over 70,000 Central security forces are also deployed in the State.

It would be very wrong for the Government to treat the people like some sorts of insect, he said while asking who is in charge of Manipur.

The State Government, however, has undeniably collapsed, he said.

Saying that what people want is restoration of normalcy in the State, the Congress leader asked the Government to exercise its authority and do the needful.

The Government should not be a mere spectator to the violence, he added.

Further stating that the Congress winning both the Inner and Outer seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections is a clear indication of people losing faith in the Government, Gaikhangam said it is the people who hold immense power in a democratic Nation.

He said that they have requested AICC leaders to give more time to speak to Dr Bimol Akoijam and Alfred K Arthur in the upcoming Parliament session.