Governor urged to act on flag desecration, accelerate peace process
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 18 2025: Lamlai MLA Kh Ibomcha has stated that he urged the Governor to initiate an investigation and take appropriate action against the Kuki militants involved in the desecration of the Seven Salai flag, the act of which went viral recently.

He noted the act had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Meetei community and could potentially escalate the ongoing conflict.

The Governor reportedly responded positively to the appeal.

MLA Ibomcha made the disclosure on Friday during Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba's visit to Sekta, where he inspected groundwork for the renovation of Nungthabi Khubham at Hidam Pat.

According to Ibomcha, he, along with Langthabal MLA Karam Shyam, Patsoi MLA Sapam Kunjakeswor, Konthoujam MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan, Wabagai MLA Dr U Deben, Sagolband MLA RK Imo, and Nungba MLA Dinganglung Gangmei, met the Governor on Thursday, during which he raised the issue and urged the Governor to identify those responsible for the desecration and take legal action.

During the meeting, the delegation also acknowledged the effectiveness of President's Rule in preventing further armed clashes in the state.

They sought the Governor's attention in ensuring free movement along national highways, accelerating peace talks, and intensifying operations to recover illegal firearms from the hill areas.

They further requested the Governor to begin construction of houses for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and compensate farmers who were unable to cultivate crops in the foothills due to security concerns.

The Governor assured them that the issues would be addressed.

Clarifying reports in some media outlets, Ibomcha said that the MLAs had not appealed for the appointment of an IAS officer above the chief secretary.

He reiterated the need to form a popular government at the earliest.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at the BJP's Thambal Shanglen office, here, Kh Ibomcha confided that the Governor was urged to accelerate dialogue between the Meetei and the Kuki-Zo communities and take the peace process forward.

Informing about the BJP legislators' visit to Raj Bhavan, he said the delegation appealed to the Governor to take appropriate actions against those who have been involved in provocative acts against various communities.

The BJP MLA appreciated the Governor s appeal to the people of the strife-torn state to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held weapons.

"There was a positive response to the arms surrender call.

However, people feel that the response to the call and the recovery of weapons have been lackadaisical in the hill areas compared to the same in the Imphal Valley.

We urged him to ensure that the recovery of arms must be intensified in the hill districts and not just in the valley areas".

People had handed over to the security forces more than 1,000 arms along with ammunition during a two-week period provided to them in February and March for voluntarily surrendering looted and illegally held weapons in Manipur.

Ibomcha said, Seven BJP MLAs called on the Governor yesterday.

We have been under the President's Rule since mid-February.

However, for the last four or five months before that, there had been an improvement in law and order in the state with almost no report of violent incidents".

The Centre had imposed President's rule in Manipur on February 13, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post led to political uncertainty in the state.

The Manipur assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ibomcha also said that the "failure" to enforce free movement of all people in all parts of the state from March 8 has "frustrated many citizens" .

"As BJP MLAs, we are answerable to the people.

The restriction on visiting the sacred Thangjing hills by some groups has hurt the religious sentiments of Meeteis.

We urged the governor to take appropriate action against anyone engaging in provocative acts.

The governor assured that actions will be taken against those who are acting outside the purview of the law," the Lamlai MLA said.

Ibomcha said the party delegation appealed to the governor to distribute crop compensation among farmers who could not cultivate their land due to the prevailing law and order situation and the payment of pending amounts for the construction of houses for displaced people.

Ibomcha condemned the Congress for its protests in front of the ED office here in connection with the National Herald case.

Comment