Political settlement needed for ending insurgency: Gaikhangam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 01 2015: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on Thursday opined that the ultimate solution to the insurgency lies in political settlement.

He said this while delivering the concluding remark of the one day seminar on the "An Emergent Manipur: The way ahead" at Auditorium, IGAR (S) organized by Assam Rifles.

Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home Minister's portfolio pointed out that many insurgent groups both from the hills and valley are operating from the international border area and this was a matter of concern for the government.

He also alleged that the formation of these groups based on ethnic lines in the hills areas were "pretending as the protectors of the communities" while often restraining the public from raising their voice and seeking peace.

Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam :: Pix - DIPR

Gaikhangam alleged that there are many over-ground organisations that assist and actively support the insurgent groups both in the hills and valley.

He also pointed out that there is a fear of "insecurity among the people of Manipur" over the territorial integrity of the State and reminded that the Government has made it clear that the territorial integrity of the State is non-negotiable.

Reflecting on the history of armed violence in Manipur, the Deputy Chief Minister said insurgency in Manipur has "a product, if not an outgrowth of the historical, economic and political circumstances of society in the region.

It is the manifestation of unarticulated fries within this society." He said the State and its people have become victims of the presence of large number of insurgent groups with both active and passive support by the external agencies.

Gaikhangam suggested that the quest for peace must necessarily be synonymous with a genuine attempt towards creating "a just order" of things.

Indirectly referring to the gamut of ethnic problems in Manipur, the Deputy Chief Minister said "One man's delicacy can very well be another's sacrilege.

A middle ground where even these directly opposing points of views can meet has to be created.

For violence to end permanently, the residual sense of anger and outrage among all communities, big or small, must first be put to rest." He said this does not mean that the onus on setting these conflicts rest solely depend on those on one side of the conflicts.