Manipur violence is national security issue: Adhir Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 30 2023: A delegation of 21 opposition MPs led by Indian National Congress (INC) MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called on Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan here around 10am Sunday and apprised her about the unrest situation in the state.

The delegation, which is on a two-day visit to the state arrived here on Saturday and visited relief camps in Churachandpur, Bishnupur and Imphal West and East districts, where they met and interacted with the violence-affected people.

Speaking to the media before leaving for the national capital on Sunday, INC MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury termed the Manipur ethnic violence as 'national security issue' and claimed that the silence of the Prime Minister show9 his brazen indifference towards the violence in the state.

The parliamentary delegation of INDIA on a two-day visit arrived here on Saturday.

They visited relief camps in Churachandpur, Bish-nupur and Imphal East and West districts and interacted with the affected people on the first day.

On Sunday, the delegation met Governor Anusuiya Uikey and also submitted a memorandum.

"Governor welcomed the team and appealed to extend their fullest cooperation to restore peace and tranquillity through a peaceful dialogue with the representatives of CSOs of both the communities to maintain status quo ante of age old tradition of peaceful co exis tence," Raj Bhavan said in a tweet.

After meeting the Governor, group leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, the Governor herself expressed pain and grief.

"During this two-day visit, whatever we witnessed, whatever experience we gained, she agreed to what we said.

She also suggested that together we should hold talks with the leaders of all communities and find a solution.

"The Governor also suggested that both the opposition and ruling parties should together send an all-party delegation to Manipur and talk to leaders of all communities which is essential to resolve the sense of distrust among the people," Chowdhury said.

In the memorandum to Governor, the MPs said: "We are, indeed, very shocked and sad to hear the stories of anxieties, uncertainties, pains and sorrows of the individuals affected by the unprecedented violence unleashed by both sides since the beginning of the clashes.

"There is anger and a sense of alienation amongst all communities, which has to be addressed without delay" .

Saying that the Central and state governments failed to protect the lives and properties of the people of the two communities, the memorandum pointed out that more than 140 deaths and over 500 people have been injured while more than 5000 houses have been burnt and over 60,000 people of both Meitei and Kuki communities have been displaced.

The INDIA MPs said that from the reports of incessant firing and arson of houses in the last few days, it is established beyond doubt that the state machineries have completely failed to control the situation for the last almost three months.

The memorandum, signed by 21 MPs said that the condition in the relief camps is pathetic to say the least.

Special care needs to be taken for the kids on a priority basis.

Students from different streams are facing an uncertain future, which has to be the priority of the state and the Union governments.

The continued internet ban for the last three months is aiding to the unsubstantiated rumours, which is aiding to the existing mistrust, it said.

In order to bring peace and harmony, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected persons is most urgent, the MPs said and urged the Governor to apprise the Union Government of the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur for the last 89 days so as to enable them to intervene in the precarious situation in Manipur to restore peace and normalcy.

The parliamentary delegation of INDIA criticised Prime Minister Narendar Modi for not visiting the violence hit state and failing to restore peace and normalcy even after around three months.

Congress' Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is also part of the MP delegation from 16 parties, said that the Prime Minister should have led the all-party delegation to Manipur to restore peace by involving all communities.

"He (PM) not only avoids visiting Manipur but also refuses the all opposition parties' continuous demand to give a statement in the parliament on the Manipur issue," he said.

Trinamool Congress Ra-jya Sabha member Sushmita Dev, who is also part of the delegation, said: "BJP and its governments are responsible for the Manipur crisis and loss of many lives and the mayhem.

BJP is a lost face, Prime Minister is a lost face.

"It was important for us to come and meet the victims here.

The sad part is that the Government of India should have sent a delegation but it remained a mute spectator MP Adhir Ranjan, while apprising the Governor on pitiable condition of the people in relief camps, said that the people are in pain and sorrow, and feelings of depression and fear are also common in their minds.

Almost all sections.of society including women, children and students are affected and it is high time to take concrete steps to end the on going conflict.

It is not only a problem of law and order, but an ethnic conflict which needs special attention, meriting appropriate step to end the conflict and to dispel hatred among the communities to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

In addition, there is almost zero movement be tween the hill and the valley, resulting in shortage of medicines and affecting the education of students.

Earlier in the day, Governor Anusuiya Uikey welcomed the team and appreciated their efforts for the restoration of peace and normalcy.

She informed the delegates that she is fully aware of the problems faced by the people consequent upon her visit to different relief camps in both the hills and valley districts.

Both the central and state governments are making relentless efforts to bring peace and normalcy at the earliest possible time and security forces are also equally discharging their responsibilities to save the people, she added.

The Governor further said that to bridge the mistrust between the two communities, the hatred amongst the communities has to be removed and therefore, all stakeholders should work in this direction peacefully.

The 21-member parliamentary delegation of the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) included Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Kani-mozhi Karunanidhi, Sandosh Kumar, A A Rahim, Manoj Kumar Jha, Javed Ali Khan, Mahua Maji, PP Mohammed Faizal, Aneel Prasad Heg-de, ET Mohammed Basheer, NK Premachandran, Sushil Gupta, ArvindSawant, D Ra-vikumar, Thiru Thol Thiru-mavalavan, Jayant Singh, Phulo Devi Netam and K Suresh.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Manish Tew-ari told the IANS: "When there is instability in any border state, all your neighbours watch that carefully" .

He pointed out that Myanmar borders Manipur and it is an open border.

"There are elements in Myanmar, who have very close linkages with China, and we already have a very7 disturbed border with China.

So any kind of social, political, economical instability allows those forces that are inimical to you to exploit those contradictions to your advantage.

So that is how it impacts the national security," he said.

Tewari also cited some examples, noting that when Punjab was disturbed, Pakistan left no stone unturned to exploit those situations.

The Congress leader said that even Chinese have been interfering in the northeast, which goes back to almost seven decades.

"There are many underground groups and insurgent groups, which have been directly trained and funded by the Chinese.

Naxalbari was the prime example in West Bengal in the 1960s.They used to shout slogans that China's chairman is our chairman.

There are several examples, " he said.

The Congress leader also felt that said a lot of the same ethnic stock from the region have evolved in different northeastern states, who live across the border and other countries also.

"So any kind of instability in your border state has a direct bearing on national security," Tewari added.

According to Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain "arms have reached almost in every houses in Manipur and the border of the state is also porous" .

He asserted that if the situation gets worse in there, as many people from different communities of Manipur are also residing in several other northeastern state and if clashes start, then it will have "ramification" in all the northeastern states.

The Congress leader also stressed that any illegal arms trafficking in the northeastern states will have an impact on national security.

Later in New Delhi, Adhir Ranjan said that the BJP government in Manipur as well as the Centre is not taking concrete steps over Manipur situation.

He said that both the governments have 'closed' their eyes on the matter.

"Whether it is state government or the Central government, they are not taking concrete steps (on Manipur issue).

No one is bothered.

Both the governments have closed their eyes as far as Manipur is concerned," Chowdhury, told reporters after returning from the strife-torn state.

He said that in the entire Manipur the fight is going on between two communities and no effort is being made -to resolve the issue between both the groups.

"I want to aware the government, if such situation is allowed to continue, it will go out of hand.

Because, both the groups don't trust each other," the Congress leader said.

He asked why Chief Minister N Brien Singh has not been dismissed till now as people of the state have lost all faith in his government.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who also part of the delegation said, "The situation is dangerous and painful.

We demand relations to be restored (between both the communities) .

An all-party delegation should visit Manipur" .

(With inputs from Agencies) .

Comment