Surrender if administration entrusted to CSOs: Ibobi to Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 11 2023:
Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in the state, 10 political parties have asked the government to surrender if it had given up administration and entrusted the responsibility to CSOs and Meira Paibis.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan here on Monday, former chief minister Okram Ibobi, on behalf of the 10 political parties, strongly condemned the way Assam Rifles treated women in the Pallel incident.
Ihe crisis has crossed four months and despite the government's claim of peace returning gradually, the ground situation says otherwise.
The Supreme Court had observed failure of maintaining law and order situation in the state and there is nothing more to say with exception of the fact that the People have been facing hardships for over four months, he said and asserted the government cannot claim return of peace where firing incidents have been become routine affairs.
Maintaining law and order, and protection of public lives and properties is a state subject and yet the government of Manipur has done nothing in this regard.
In the face of the failure of the government, women and CSOs are raising their voices and coming out on the streets, he said and asked if the government has given up its responsibilities and handed over administration to CSOs and womenfolk.
If that is the case, the government should formally surrender since it is meaningless for the government to stay, he said.
Opposition parties cannot accept the illegal activities of narco-terrorists, poppy cultivation and influx of illegal immigrants.
Any move of the government against such illegal activities would definitely get public support.
The government should uphold rule of law and everybody will support the government, maintained the former chief minister.
On the other hand, the 10 political parties strongly condemned the partial attitude of Assam Rifles, if it is true.
Assam Rifles was assigned the responsibility to guard the 362 km long international border that Manipur shares with Myanmar.
If it is true that they are acting partially, why the state government is allowing them to act in such manner, he enquired.
At the same time, Assam Rifles operates under the command of ministry of home affairs and Amit Shah should replace them.
It is true that there were bandh and blockade in the state during Congress rule, but no such fierce ethnic clashes happened, he said.
The government can always stop the violence within a week, if it is committed.
The foremost task to restore peace should be stopping the armed conflict and disarming both the sides including the cadres of SoO group, who are violating the ground rules.
Dialogue should follow after disarmament and if the state government is not in a position to host such dialogue, the Centre can always intervene and take lead.
However, such dialogues should never entertain anything that affects the interest of the state and the nation.
At the same time, the government needs to update NRC to detect and deport illegal immigrants and fence the international border to prevent illegal immigration, the CLP leader maintained.
Joining the media briefing, CPI's former state secretary L Sotinkumar said that the Pallel incident shows the unethical conduct of Assam Rifles as it only deepens the people's suspicion of the Assam Rifles siding with the narco-terrorists.
Taking some cabinet resolutions condemning the conduct of Assam Rifles without taking up any action is nothing but a drama.
The state government should take firm decision to arrest and prosecute the AR personnel responsible for bring live rounds and killing civilians.
The government should take up stern measures to stop the violence immediately, he said.
Ibobi further said that union home minister had held several rounds of talks with Kuki militant groups during the ongoing crisis which is not acceptable as any talk should be preceded by cessation of violence.
He also said that the Prime Minister and the union home minister should shoulder the responsibility of stopping the violence and restoring peace through a political solution.
They also should stop running a proxy government by keeping a puppet government, as it will only infuriate the public, he contended.