Imphal, May 07: Even as various social organisations have come out strongly against the move being made by the Government to provide guns to the people, a panel discussion on the topic of 'issuing guns to the public and its implication' held here has categorically dubbed the move as a sign of failure on the part of the Government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the people.

The penal discussion held at Manipur Press Club here with senior citizen Arambam Lokendra as moderator was organised by Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF).

Advocate Khaidem Mani, editor of Huiyen Lanpao Brozendro Ningombam and Prof Ch Priyoranjan of Manipur University shared their observations on the issue as resource persons.

Delivering the key note address of the discussion session, MAFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal said that the decision of the Government of Manipur to provide guns and make the people fight against insurgency is condemnable and should be opposed.

For the last many years, people of Manipur have been demanding repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act giving out a strong message that they do not want gun culture nor senseless killing.

But instead of fulfilling the long standing demand of the people, the move being made by the Government to provide guns to the people without understanding the underlining meaning behind the demand for guns for self-defence if the Government is not being able to protect its people, shows that the Government has failed in its responsibility of protecting the people, Kangleipal said.

On the other hand, it is also high time for all the UG groups to ponder over why the people have raised the demand for providing guns, Kangleipal said, adding that UG groups should also start working towards protecting the lives of the people along with respecting their rights and properties.

Giving his observations on the issue as a resource person, Prof Priyoranjan said that the recent decision of the Government to provide guns to the people has shown that it does not like peace and normalcy be restored in Manipur nor would like to work towards this end.

Stating that what the Government of Manipur, the police and the insurgents are doing has confused the people, Prof Priyoranjan observed that why the people of Heirok have demanded guns and why the Government has agreed to the demands can be discussed analysed from various angles.

It is necessary to find out whether the Government is trying to use the people as a tool by providing guns or the people of Heirok have suffered long enough in the hands of the UGs, Prof Priyoranjan noted.

Brozendro Ningombam, another resource person of the panel discussion observed it is short-sightedness of the Government to think of pursuing the move of issuing guns to the people as a State policy.

The decision adopted by the State Cabinet in this regard should be reviewed.

Issuing of guns to the people is not going to solve the problem of insurgency and the people of Manipur want a governance which is not based on guns but on peace, he said. From the view of unemployment problem existing in the State, appointment to the post of SPOs, even if it is not a regular post and would not have any pension benefit, may be like by some people.

But this would not secure their future.

If the Government is really concerned then, instead of SPO posts, recruitment for regular police posts can be arranged, he Brozendro suggested.

Advocate Khaidem Mani said that framing of any policy for taking up developmental activities of the people should be done in a legally acceptable manner.

However, issuing guns to the people is not legally acceptable.

Similar, UG groups should also launch their movement for the right cause and in acceptable manner.

At one time, no one had opposed to the movement of the UG groups, but today people have started raising their voice against the UGs.

Why this has come about should be analysed thoroughly over and over again, Mani said.

Representatives of various women bodies also participated and spoke in the discussion session expressing reservation against the move being made to provide arms to the people.

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