MPCC pooh-poohs BJP's 'misunderstanding' alibi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 22 2023: Taking strong exception to the assertion of BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda that misunderstanding gave rise to the Kuki MLAs' demand of separate administration, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has questioned the connotation of 'misunderstanding' as understood by A Sharda.

Speaking to media persons at his Babupara quarters today, MPCC president K Meghachandra urged the BJP Government to focus on resolving the months-long Manipur crisis instead of making unfounded allegations against the Congress party.

All the people of Manipur including the CSOs and the 10 Opposition parties know very well that the Manipur violence has been continuing for such a long time because of misgovernance and the BJP Government's failure to control the violence in time, Meghachandra said.

MPCC pooh-poohs BJP's 'misunderstanding' alibi

There must be a reason for the absence of Kuki MLAs including the two Cabinet Ministers at the Cabinet meeting and the public function held at Ukhrul recently.

Absence of Kuki Ministers at Cabinet meetings held at Imphal is understandable but they could have attended the Cabinet meeting held at Ukhrul, Meghachandra said.

The 10 Kuki MLAs belonging to BJP and other parties which are supporting the BJP Government appended their signatures in their memorandum/representation to the Government of India which demanded separate administration, and this fact is known to all the people, he said.

Even though the Kuki MLAs appended their signatures in the memorandum/representation submitted to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, the BJP Manipur Pradesh is now claiming that certain misunderstanding gave rise to the demand of Separate Administration; this is outrageously ridiculous, the MPCC president remarked.

To cover up a lie, the BJP Government has been telling a hundred lies, he said.

A section of State security forces who were sent to control violence at Moreh are still unable to reach the border town, he said before blaming the BJP Government for the protracted crisis besieging the State.

He urged the Government to take a concrete political decision and work on it instead of blaming Opposition parties.

There is no proper administration in the State and the State has collapsed financially during the last six months, he said.

With the BJP Government unable to maintain law and order, incidents of criminal activities have been rising at an alarming rate in the State.

Some people have taken the law into their hands and they have been acting at their fancy and whims, often beating up citizens and opening fire, Meghachandra continued.

There are cases of rampant human rights violation.

It's time the Government take up concrete actions to put an end to this situation of lawlessness, he added.

He appealed to the State Government to work for restoring lasting peace in the State in consultation with the Prime Minister.

Citing media reports of construction of new bunkers by Kukis on hill ranges overlooking valley districts, the MPCC president noted that peace still remains a far cry in the State.

The Government's claim of peace being restored in the State holds no meaning when none of the ruling Ministers/MLAs dare to travel from the valley to the hills, he said.

He asked if the Defence Minister has taken up any tangible action subsequent upon his purported assurance to destroy poppy plantations in the State.

Decrying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still acting blind to the untold suffering of over 60,000 people who have been staying in relief camps for the last six months, the MPCC president urged the Chief Minister and the Cabinet Ministers to go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister and take up urgent measures for resolving the Manipur crisis.