Cong MLAs ready to resign if it will pave path for peace, says MLA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2023: In a daring statement, Khundrakpam Constituency MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar has said that all the five Congress MLAs won't hesitate to resign if their resignation will pave a path for normalcy to return in Manipur.

He made the statement after distributing blankets to people from Khundrakpam and other areas staying at the prefabricated houses set up by the Government for the displaced people inside near Sajiwa Jail, today.

Speaking to the media, Lokeshwar stated that the Government has been making random statements to save their image instead of putting sincere effort to douse the flame and restore normalcy in Manipur.

Even the Prime Minister has been maintaining studied silence on Manipur violence other than condemning the naked parade instance of two Kuki women and the same is very unfortunate, the Congress MLA said.

Stating that the double engine BJP Government hasn't put any effort to work out a solution to the ongoing crisis, he asked the Government to do away with petty politics and end the conflict at the earliest.

Lokeshwar also said that the inability of the Government to trace and recover the mortal remains of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi even after arresting some of the accused by the CBI over a month ago is very unfortunate.

Urging the Chief Minister to seek an audience with the Prime Minister as a responsible leader of the State and pave a way forward, he said that the Congress MLAs are ready to accompany the ruling MLAs to mount a pressure on the Central leaders to end the conflict.

All the 50 MLAs, keeping aside the Kuki representatives, need to seek an audience with the Prime Minister togethera nd place the collective demand of the people to the Central leader together, he continued.

Reiterating that all the Congress MLAs are ready to step down if their resignation can end the conflict, Lokeshwar maintained that any delay from the elected representatives in restoring normalcy will frustrate the people furthermore and create bigger problems.

The Congress MLAs went on to state that many people from Khundrakpam AC alone are taking refuge at different relief camps as their houses were flattened and torched by Kuki militants.

Saying that he donated blankets to the displaced people as all their belongings have either been robbed or burnt by Kuki militants, the Congress MLA said that he so far have distributed about 1,000 blankets as many displaced people don't have warm clothes.

The Government too provided one blanket each to every family at the shelter home near Sajiwa Jail yesterday under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner concerned but it is not enough as every family has more than one person, he maintained.

Saying that he understands the inconvenience being faced by the officials in distributing blankets due to the inadequate amount of blankets given by the higher-ups, the Congress MLA nonetheless acknowledged the assistance given by the Government officials to the inmates.

The shelter home near Sajiwa Jail doesn't have any space for the people taking refuge to take rest outside, he pointed out and asked the Government to build a shed at the shelter home.

The Congress MLA said that he is willing to build the shed if the Government provides him the land.

He, on ther hand, condemned the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar at Moreh recently.

Saying that the Centre and the State Government shouldn't remain over the use of sophisticated weapons by Kuki militants on numerous occasions, the Congress MLA added that the Government at the Centre and Manipur should take responsibility for the death of the decorated police officer.

The police stationed at Moreh had been urging the Government to send a reinforcement team in advance but the latter didn't pay any attention to it, he claimed and added the killing of SDPO Anand could have been prevented had the Government deployed adequate security forces at the border town.

He also asked the Government to take up measures to make Meeteis and Kukis co-exist peacefully at Moreh again.

Comment