Government urged to abrogate SoO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2023: The BJP Government should abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with Kuki militants instead of blaming the Congress party for allegedly giving rise to the conflict through the signing of the agreement, said Dr Nimaichand Luwang during a press conference at Manipur Press Club today.

Addressing the media today, the National Executive Council member of Janata Dal (United), Dr Nimaichand Luwang condemned the brutal killing of Ch Anand, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Moreh by armed Kuki miscreants yesterday on behalf of the party.

Maintaining that Chief Minister N Biren Singh has failed in all aspects of governance, Dr Nimaichand Luwang questioned why the Government had not deployed additional forces at Moreh despite multiple pleas for the same prior to the death of the SDPO.

Adding that after Ch Anand's death, many reinforcements were sent to Moreh town, he asked what had prevented the Government from taking up this step earlier.

The Chief Minister did not have the courage to station the Manipur police personnel by force at Moreh.

If SDPO Ch Anand had not been brutally killed, the Chief Minister might never have succeeded in sending additional forces to Moreh at all, he said.

Dr Nimaichand Luwang continued to say that the double-engine Government of BJP has brought the State at the precipice of balkanisation.

It lacks the ability to deploy the State forces in its own regions of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Saikul, he said.

Just like yesterday, security reinforcements should be sent in to all areas inhabited by Kuki militants and widespread operations should be conducted to flush them out, he added.

Blaming Chief Minister N Biren Singh for the ongoing conflict, Dr Nimaichand Luwang said that due to lapses on the part of the Government, the violence which erupted on May 3 has continued to fester.

So far, more than 200 people have lost their lives in this conflict, roughly 60,000/70,000 people have been uprooted and more than 5000 houses have been lost to arson.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet taken any concrete steps to bring about a resolution to the crisis, he pointed out.

In addition, he recalled the recent statement made by BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda claiming that BJP MLAs have not raised the call for separate administration in Manipur.

Terming the statement as unfortunate, he asserted that the lady in question has no consideration for the people of the State.

Why has the Chief Minister not taken up any action against the Kuki MLAs/ministers who are demanding separate administration, separate DGP and chief secretary, he further questioned.

He also cast aspersions on the claim made by A Sharda that BJP Manipur Pradesh has sent a letter to the Centre demanding action against the BJP Kuki MLAs/ministers.

Thus, he urged for the letter to be made public.

Jeering the BJP's claim that the current conflict has been caused by the Congress party, Dr Nimaichand Luwang opined that the BJP Government is incapable of taking any action against Kuki militants under SoO pact as they were allegedly utilized to secure votes for BJP during elections.

He claimed that it is because of the SoO agreement that the period from 2008 to 2017 was relatively peaceful in Manipur.

If the BJP Government is against the SoO pact and if they consider it erroneous then the BJP Government should revoke the agreement, he challenged.

JD (U) Manipur State Unit vice-president Dr Khwairakpam Loken and O Nabakishore and other notable party leaders were present at the press briefing.

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