Shah's model of administration draws flaks
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2023: The Congress party has attacked the advice made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Chief Minister N Biren which looked like separation of valley districts' administration from that of hill districts.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, MPCC working president Kh Devbratta remarked that what Chief Minister N Biren told the media at the Imphal airport last night indicated emergence of a separate administration.

During a meeting held at New Delhi yesterday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly stated that the Centre would take the responsibility of restoring peace in the hill districts while the State Government should take the responsibility of controlling the disorganised violence witnessed in the valley districts.

This was conveyed by none other than Chief Minister N Biren himself.

Shah's model of administration draws flaks

The State Assembly election held in 2022 gave mandate to the State Government headed by Chief Minister N Biren to take the reins of administration of the whole State, Devbratta said.

One primary duty and responsibility of the State Government is to safeguard the integrity of Manipur, he said.

People have been deeply hurt by what Chief Minister N Biren told the media last night which suggested that administration of the hill districts has been taken over by the Centre, he said.

It would be totally wrong to introduce a system of administration in Manipur which is unheard of in any other State of India, the MPCC working president said.

He pointed out that the mandate given by the people to Chief Minister N Biren is to govern both the hill and valley districts.

Restricting the Chief Minister's administrative power to the valley districts is unacceptable to the Congress party.

The points of agreement reached between N Biren and Amit Shah yesterday should be annulled immediately, he demanded.

The Union Home Minister's assertion that he would take charge of the hill districts violates the country's federal structure and any such arrangement is not permitted by the Constitution, Devbratta said.

He further pointed out that Article 355 has not been invoked yet in Manipur.

The MPCC working president then urged both Amit Shah and N Biren to clearly spell out the points of agreements they reached last night.

If N Biren thinks that he is incapable of administering the whole State, he must step down, he asserted.

He also questioned the implication of the reports that the Centre would take the onus of bringing peace in the State through dialogue with SoO militant groups and PDF/CDF based in foreign countries.

UKLF leader SS Haokip had already made it public that they took a pivotal role in ensuring BJP candidates' victory in the State Assembly election, and that they were demanding separate administration for Kukis, not separation from India.

Kuki militants under SoO have been already sharing a very cordial relationship with the Government of India.

If the two sides somehow come to a tacit agreement, it would be highly detrimental to the collective interest of Manipur, Devbratta said.

The so-called disorganised violence witnessed in the valley districts would have never surfaced had the Union Home Minister opened Imphal-Dimapur highway, Imphal-Moreh highway and Imphal-Churachandpur road in time, he said.Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan's house might not have been torched had the Centre intervened in time.

The present violence is a result of complete failure of administration.

Not knowing whom to blame for the distressing situation, people targeted Ministers, he continued.

Saying that many Kuki civilians are being armed and used in the ongoing conflict, the MPCC president asked as to why the Union Home Minister has not been informed about this disturbing trend.

N Biren must step down for he has failed in his duties as the Chief Minister of Manipur, he asserted.

On the other hand, the Congress party, as always, is fully committed to the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary, Devbratta added.

Raising strong suspicion whether the Government of India has granted separate administration to the Kuki community tacitly, CPI Manipur State Council has urged all concerned to come out with an unambiguous clarification on the matter.

If the incumbent Central Government respects democracy, the Chief Minister must be given full authority to resolve the protracted crisis, said a press release issued by CPI Manipur State Council.

If the incumbent Chief Minister is not competent enough, he may be replaced by a competent one but the State Chief Minister should head the unified command, it added.