Act or face public uprising: COCOMl to CM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 19 2024:
Demanding the state government to do the needful and honour the demands of the people, Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMl) has served a final ultimatum to the chief minister urging him to take up necessary steps while cautioning him, of facing public uprising in case of failing to do so.
An eight-member team of COCOMl met chief minister N Biren at latter's official residence, here, on Friday for update on the stand of the government regarding the evolving situation and steps contemplated for resolving the crisis.
Interacting with the media after the meeting, COCOMl convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said that during the meeting, the team brought up the failure of security arrangement in the state and enquired about who actually is in-charge of the Unified Command.
They also told the CM that the people of Manipur no longer trust the Central government and its policy along with enquiring the reason behind the silence of the state government in-spite of aware about the fact that the Central government is orchestrating a proxy war in the state.
They also asked the position of the MLAs and ministers on the current situation, he said.
Further stating that attack on state security forces is a shame on the government, Jeetendra said, the team categorically pointed out to the chief minister that seeking helicopter from MHA is not what the people want but resolute action against the perpetrators.
The CM was further enquired on reason for inaction on the part of central security forces in the killing of four civilians in Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, Jeetendra conveyed.
He confided that the COCOMl team demanded the chief minister to take a firm stand by the state government, not just giving verbal assurances but by action.
Simply giving assurances and speeches cannot assuage the public sentiment.
Instead, the government should initiate multi-pronged strategy including withdrawal of SoO agreement, extensive operation to flush out the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and conduct NRC exercise.
As the SP from Moreh had already confirmed involvement of Myanmar-based militants in the attack on state forces the CM was suggested that the state government and the security advisor intimate the same to the Central government, Jeetendra said.
Expressing belief that the government would do the needful to fulfil the public demand, the COCOMI team served an ultimatum, making it clear that the government would face public uprising if it fails to take up prompt actions, the convenor said.
Jeetendra also said that CM always assured of fulfilling the demands and he never said no.However, what is important is the action of his government.
CSOs and people of the state have waited for around nine months and they can no longer wait for more unfulfilled assurances from the government, he added.