O Ibobi tongue lashes stony PM Modi
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 20 2023: Decrying alleged indifferent attitude of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who not only remains silent on the restive situation in Manipur but also refuses to meet delegation of different political parties including his own party BJP, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Okram Ibobi said that they are not beggars seeking alms.

Ibobi raised serious concerns over the government's failure to control the ongoing violence in Manipur and the silence of Prime Minister Modi regarding the matter.

Speaking at a press con ference held at the AICC headquarters in the nation al capital, Ibobi, alongside AICC General Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, raised doubts about the BJP's intentions, suspecting a hidden agenda for allowing the violence to persist for over a month.

Despite leaders and MLAs from various political parties in Manipur, including the BJP, staying in the national capital to meet the Prime Minister since June 10, he remained incommunicado, which Ibobi said is unbecoming of a Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy.

"We are not beggars.

We came here to inform the Prime Minister about the current sit uation in Manipur," empha sised Ibobi, challenging the perception that politicians from Manipur are seen as such by the Prime Minister due to his lack of attention.

He reiterated that their purpose to meet the Prime Minister was to apprise him of the current situation in Manipur.

Ibobi argued that if Prime Minister Modi considers Manipur as part of India, he should take the matter seriously.

The failure of the government, with its "double engine" power, to control the violence initially led to the current situation, a fact even acknowledged by Chief Minister N Biren.

Ibobi demanded that the Modi government take responsibility for the ongoing violence and its consequences.

Conceding that there were unsavoury incidents and chal -longing situations during his tenure us chief minister for 15 years, Ibobi reminded all concerned that his govern ment always made significant efforts to prevent communal clashes.

However, despite the deployment of nearly one lakh security personnel in Manipur, including state and central forces, tnc BJP government has failed toef rectively control the situation.

Ibobi questioned whether there is a hidden agenda behind the BJP's hesitancy to contain the violence, suggesting that with such a substantial security presence, it should take no more than three days to end the violence and initiate the peace process.

Even if unprecedented situations arise, one week is enough to control the situation, he reasoned and stressed the need for disarming both sides and initiating a peace process to restore normalcy.

Ibobi also criticised the Modi government's silence over the vandalising and burning of more than 600 temples and churches, while his government talked tough even if a temple was vandalised by some miscreants in other countries.

With over 110 lives lost, hundreds injured, and tens of thousands rendered homeless with their houses burnt, Ibobi said, he is raising these concerns not as a member of the opposition but as a concerned citizen of the country.

Ibobi also commented on union home minister Amit Shah s visit, which took place after a delay of 26 days since the violence began.

Instead of focusing on concrete steps to contain the violence, Shah boasted about being the first union minister to stay three nights in Imphal.

Ibobi emphasised that the result of his visit and the restoration of peace are the real measures of success but not his duration of stay.

The Central government's apparent indifference to the situation in Manipur has led the people of the state to question their place within the Union of India.

Ibobi highlighted the growing doubts among the populace, and wondered whether the decision to merge with India was a historical blunder.

The press conference was attended by several political leaders, including MPCC President K Meghachandra, deputy CLP leader K Ranjit, former speaker MLA Th Lokeshwar, JD-U Manipur president Ksh Biren, and representatives from various other parties.

Together, they called for urgent attention from the Prime Minister regarding the critical situation in Manipur.

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