Dialogue only means to end crisis: Ibobi
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 19 2023: As in other parts of the country, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) observed the 106th birth anniversary of first woman Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi at Congress Bhawan, here, on Sunday and honoured the late PM by offering rich floral tributes.

CLP leader O Ibobi Singh, who joined the observance also known as Quami Ekta Diwas, said that anyone can raise his/her demand in a democratic country through non-violent means.

He went on to say that violence has no place in a democratic country like India and Indira Gandhi was a leader who stood steadfast against organisations raising demands with use of violence.

If there is a problem, there has to be a solution and dialogue is the only way to find the solution, Ibobi pointed out, adding that it would be better to resolve a problem by holding dialogue rather than making the people to suffer by raising unrealistic demands.

According to O Ibobi, Indira Gandhi was a leader who took firm decision against any force trying to disintegrate India and fought decisively against anti-national elements including use of force to uproot organisations which were trying to break apart the country through violent means.

The violence in Manipur and problems being faced by the nation at present need to be tackled as per thought and decision of the late PM, Ibobi stressed and recalled how Indira Gandhi was killed by her own bodyguards after she ordered crackdown against Khalistani organisations.

Expressing concern over the suffering of people in the nearly seven months old violence in Manipur, O Ibobi said that the state government must take decisive action to end the violence at their level or seek the Centre's help if unable to resolve the crisis.

He also said that it is natural for a state to suffer economically if there is no peace and normalcy and this is the main reason for decline of state's GST collection to the tune of 90 percent in the ongoing unrest.

Replying to a query raised by media persons on the sidelines of the observance, MPCC president K Meghachandra maintained that how state government expended funds during the present unrest period is not clearly specified while expenditure incurred for running relief camps is unprecedently high.

He opined that fund released by the Centre and the state government for relief camps seems to be misutilised.

The observance function was also attended by CWC member Gaikhangam, Congress MLAs and leaders and workers of the party.

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