Former MLA demands
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2023: Instead of arresting civilians who have volunteered because of the State's failure to protect people's lives and Manipur's integrity, strong action should be initiated against the Chief Minister for his failure as the head of the State, said former MLA RK Anand.

He said the youths had volunteered to protect the land and the people because of the failure of the State.

Instead of arresting the village volunteers, the Chief Minister who is also holding the portfolio of Home should be arrested, he said.

Former MLA RK Anand told this to reporters at a press meet held at the residence of veteran politician and former Law Minister Okram Joy at Kakwa today.

He said the arrest of the five village volunteers and subsequent rearrest of one among them by the NIA after their release on bail is "very unfortunate" .

RK Anand said the volunteers had been protecting the Meitei people and the State against the onslaught of the Kuki narco-terrorists.

There seems to be Emergency in Manipur without enforcing Article 355.The State Government seems to have been stripped of all powers.

The Government has failed to govern the State, he said.

The Government has failed to solve and end the more than four month old crisis.

While the Government remains without taking any action, the Meitei community has been facing the narco-terrorists themselves, the issue of illegal immigrants and the demand for a separate administration.

The crisis was blown out of proportion because the Government didn't take up timely action against the narco-terrorists, RK Anand said.

"In addition to the presence of the large State forces, more than 60,000 Central Paramilitary Forces have been brought in amid the crisis.

Despite the presence of such a large force, the State remains unable to end violence.

Whose fault is this?" RK Anand asked.

He further asked why the five village volunteers were arrested only recently when they could have been arrested earlier.

"From how and where did they get the arms? Who looted the arms from the security force and how? How have these arms reached the civilians?" He asked.

RK Anand asserted that "without the support of the Government, the arms could never fall into the arms of the civilians" .

"The Government could have given away the arms to help the State fight the narco-terrorists.

At the time, State police were unable to face the onslaught of the Kuki narco-terrorists.

What were the State police doing then?" RK Anand questioned.

The role taken by the village volunteers in defending the Meitei villages was enormous.

The Government calling in arms looted from the security force is "surprising" when the Chief Minister is the one who should be held "responsible" for the loot of the arms, he said.

"The Chief Minister is also holding the portfolio of Home, and as such he is responsible for the loot of the arms.

In connection with the giveaway of arms, if the Government is able, then it should take action against the top cops, SPs and Commanding Officers of MR," RK Anand said.

He cautioned that it would be wrong for the Government to treat the martyrs who have sacrificed for Manipur as criminals.

The Kukis brethren have gone to the United Nations and spread "false narratives".

If the Government is able then take actions to abrogate Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with armed Kuki groups and drive out all Kuki narco-terrorists from Manipur, RK Anand said.

At the press meet, former Law Minister O Joy said the rearrest of the one person among the five village volunteers is the same inviting more trouble.

Had the civilians not volunteered to safeguard villagers and protect the villages and the people from narco-terrorists, the situation would have been worse, he said.

The State Assembly has not taken one resolution to protect Manipur.

The Assembly's existence as such is not needed if it can't make a single contribution towards the welfare of the people and the State.

The Government's existence has no meaning, he said.

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