AK Mirabai questions Manipur's status as integral part of India
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, June 11 2023:
Inmates of three different relief camps who fled from Sugnu, Serou and Napat due to the recent onslaught of violence interacted with former Minister AK Mirabai, former MLA Okram Landhoni and Sugnu MLA K Ranjit's spouse K Madhumati today.
Upon meeting with the relief camp inmates, former Minister AK Mirabai expressed grief at the current state of affairs wherein many have become victims to the rampant violence inflicted by Kuki militants.
At this critical juncture, the Prime Minister of India has not said a single word over this tragedy.
This makes one doubt if Manipur is truly considered to be an integral part of India, the former Minister challenged.
Saying that there is no inkling of a functioning State Government and no trace of initiation of peace dialogues, she added that the way political leaders of different communities have been summoned is poking fun at the crisis and adding fuel to the fire.
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Referring to accusations that the Meitei community started this conflict, she demanded concrete evidence to prove these claims.
The former Minister then urged the State Government to take appropriate steps to rehabilitate the displaced families by building their houses and returning a sense of normalcy in their lives.
She cautioned that otherwise a civil war might erupt fuelled by the frustrations of the people.
She further called for initiation of peace talks and restoration of peace in Manipur.
In this regard, K Madhumati also appealed for an amicable resolution to the conflict and rehabilitation of the displaced families impacted by the violence with State security forces safeguarding them.
Two inmates by the name of Kalpana Moirangthem from Sugnu and Asem Naobi from Napat shared that their houses were torched by Kuki militants in what looked like a preplanned attack on their villages.
"We have fled our villages to save our lives.
But we want to return to our homes so we appeal to the State Government to deploy State security forces in the foothills for our protection so that we can return to our normal lives", they said.
Further, they rued over the seemingly bleak future of their children who were earlier deprived of normal school education due to Covid-19 and now have to halt their education due to this State-wide crisis.
It is worth noting that the three women interacted with the inmates at the relief camps set up at Athokpam Junior High School, Khangabok Higher Secondary School and TT Indoor Hall, Thoubal Wangmataba and also enquired after their needs.