"MPs' pressure can end the crisis"
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 28 2023:
The three months old violent crisis besieging Manipur can be brought to an end if the MPs elected from Manipur exert strong pressure on the Government of India by demanding either abrogation of SoO with Kuki militant groups and declaration of illegal immigrants invading Manipur-particularly Meiteis, as terrorists or restoration of Manipur's pre-merger status if the Government is not in a position to protect Meitei citizens, said retired IPS officer Sarangthem Manaobi.
Speaking to media persons at his Canchipur residence today, Manaobi said that the crisis can be resolved within a short time if the MPs exert strong pressure on the Government of India by raising a call attention motion in the ongoing Parliament session and talking with the Prime Minister.
He said that Meitei civilization is 5000 years old and the same is written in the 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.
The British empire recognised Manipur as a sovereign Asiatic power.
Although the British empire conquered Manipur in 1891, Manipur was not annexed to the dominion of Indian but it remained as a British Protectorate (Princely State) until 1949 when Manipur merged with India, Manaobi pointed out.
In 1947, the Britishers left Manipur and bequeathed paramount sovereignty to the king of Manipur on August 14, 1947 .
"An elected Government was formed on October 18, 1948 with 15 Cabinet Ministers headed by MK Priyobarta as Chief Minister.
Then ensued the forcible merger with India etc and now we see the consequences of the merger", he said.
Saying that Rajya Sabha Member Leishemba Sanajaoba is a living testimony of the 5000 year old Meitei civilization and Meitei National history, Manaobi maintained that both Leishemba Sanajaoba and Union Minister of State RK Ranjan are fully aware of the people's suffering and apprehensions.
They must highlight the people's pressure exerted on them and pass on the same pressure to the Central Government so as to bring an end to the present crisis, he said.
Pointing out that the Central Government's SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups has bred a number of problems and issues in the State, he said that the MPs elected from Manipur must exert strong pressure on the Central Government to abrogate SoO.
The MPs ought to present a detailed account of how illegal immigrants from Myanmar, armed with sophisticated weapons, have declared war on Meitei people in Manipur.
They must work to see that these illegal immigrants and aggressors are declared as terrorists by the Central Government, Manaobi said.
The State's demographic profile has changed drastically as a result of continuous influx of Kukis from neighbouring Myanmar.
As such, there is an urgent need to implement NRC within August, 2023, he continued.
It is time for the MPs elected from Manipur to extract a written statement from the Central Government which guarantees the territorial and administrative integrity of the State, Manaobi added.