Congress MLA reacts to arrest of journalist
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 30 2023: Taking strong exception to the arrest of senior Editor Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar has cautioned that democracy will not have any value if the journalists are silenced and the voice of critics suppressed.

He made the statement during the felicitation ceremony of different International and National awardees held at Manipur Press Club today.

The programme was organised by All Manipur Dalit Development Association (AMDDA) .

Speaking as the chief guest, Lokeshwar continued that the society will turn blind if media personnel and people who speak or write against the Government are threatened constantly.

Meeteis would not be in a difficult position today had the Government exercised its authority and stopped the rally of May 3 at Churachandpur which was participated by well armed miscreants, he said.

Continuing that Meeteis which have been playing the key role in keeping the State intact have become more like the proverbial fish in a pond, the Congress MLA maintained that it is mostly the failure of the incumbent Government which put the Meeteis in a tight corner.

On illegal immigrants, Lokeshwar said that over 6,000 Myanmar Nationals are taking refuge at Kamjong alone as per multiple media reports.

Saying that many other people from the neighbouring Myanmar might have also entered other hill districts affected by the violence too, he said that these refugees will create a big problem in the future if they set up unauthorised villages.

The Congress MLA continued that the Myanmar Nationals taking refuge in Manipur must be deported to their country.

The violence in Manipur won't end as long as the Myanmar Nationals enter the State continuously , he opined and added that the movement of people along the porous Indo-Myanmar must be stopped to end the violence.

Unfortunately, the BJP Government is busy seeking votes for the 2024 elections instead of addressing the grievances of the people especially those taking refuge at relief camps and prefabricated houses, he claimed.

Further stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn't given any chance to the State legislators to meet him after the violence broke out on May 3, Lokeshwar said that the 50 MLAs (leaving aside the Kuki MLAs) can always mount pressure on the Prime Minister to hold discussion on Manipur violence.

Appealing to the BJP legislators to seek an audience of the 50 MLAs with the Prime Minister, he added that the Congress MLAs are ready to resign if it will restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the Congress MLA expressed grief over the killing of a village volunteer at Singda-Kadangband by suspected Kuki militants.

He asked how the Kuki militants could attack the Meeteis despite heavy deployment of Central forces in the area.

AMDDA president Dr TM Rajen Ayangba, Padmashree awardee Dr Waikhom Chaoba and North East coordinator of Dalit Sahitya Academy Dr Oinam Chaoba also attended the programme among others.

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