Ruling MLAs to urge centre end SoO deal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 21 2024:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday chaired a meeting with 35 MLAs including Naga legislators, who are part of the government, to discuss in detail the future of the state, either good or bad, with regard to the conflict raging in Manipur for the past nine months.
According to a source, the meeting from around noon continued till about 2 pm.
Several MLAs, however, were absent from the meeting due to health concerns and unavoidable circumstances.
While reminding that the state government had previously taken a decision to withdraw the Suspension of Operation' agreement with Kuki outfits, the source revealed that Sunday's meeting agreed that the state government shall write to the centre to withdraw the agreement at the earliest.
All 35 MLAs who attended the meeting will be sending the joint letter to union home minister Amit Shah soon, the source said, adding that the decision to withdraw the SoO agreement was adopted in view of the Kuki outfits continuing to violate the ground rule and guidelines.
The source also mentioned that some changes have been witnessed to how union home minister Amit Shah is viewing the situation in Manipur, following the recent slew of attacks on security forces and extreme actions by Kuki militants.
As such, there is likely to be change in the directions from the centre with regard to the eight-month long conflict.
Additionally, the centre is aware of the people's increasing mistrust on the central forces, particularly the Assam Rifles, the source conveyed.
During the meeting, discussions were held on the conflict raging for more than eight months and actions which the people's representatives, who are bound by the Constitution, can either take or not take.
The MLAs also discussed in detail the effects on the state's integrity, should the MLAs simply act on sentiments of the people thoughtlessly and bring on the centre's attention, which may then work against the wishes of the people.
Thus, the meeting deliberated on the best possible ways of executing the people's wishes with the proverbial "killing the snake without snapping the stick" .