Political parties mull movement to end violence
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 05 2023:
Ten like-minded opposition political parties have decided to carry out demonstration at various places of the state to bring an end to the ongoing violence.
The decision to launch demonstration was arrived at during a joint meeting of the opposition parties at Hotel Imphal, here on Thursday attended by representatives of INC, JD(U), CPI, CPI(M), AAP, All India Forward Block, Manipur Shiv Sena (UBP), RSP, NCP and AITUC.
A declaration was also adopted during the meeting to campaign for peace in the state with the intervention of state and central government by holding dialogue with all stake holders.
It also said that investigation should be carried out for all those killed in the violence so far including two students by registering cases.
Another point mentioned in the declaration was that the parties will support peace processes initiated by the government.
Regarding the joint meet, JD(U) Manipur chief spokesperson Nimaichand Luwang told media persons that violence is continuing since May 3 due to negligence of both state and central governments.
He said that holding talks with all stakeholders could bring a solution but the Centre and the state government are unable to create conducive environment to hold peace talks.
According to Nimaichand, the 10 political parties strongly condemn excessive action of security forces against students protesting the killing of two missing but presumed dead students.
The joint meet also deeply condoled the brutal killing of two students as well as those killed and missing since the violence erupted.
Even though the ongoing violence crossed five months, there is no sign of a solution and it would be very difficult to restore normalcy as long as the tension and mistrust persist.
Nevertheless, the Centre can contain the violence within a day or two if it is sincere, Nimaichand said and elucidated his claim by referring to swift action of the Centre after the viral video of two women paraded naked in public and the single phone call by Union home minister Amit Shah stopped the proposed mass burial in Torbung area.
The Centre is capable of doing anything very swiftly as was done in the missing but now presumed dead case of two students.
When public anger intensified in connection with the killing of two students, the Centre sent a CBI team from Delhi and nabbed some suspects within few days.
This showed that BJP government both at the Centre and state do not want the violence to end or bring solution, Nimaichand Luwang alleged adding that the double engine government of BJP is yet to take up any step to bring peace in the state.
Former chief minister and CLP leader O Ibobi Singh, also told media persons after the joint meeting that law & order and protection of life and public properties are state subject but there is no law & order in Manipur for the past five months.
He said that general public are confused whether there is democratically elected government in Manipur or not.
If such a situation continues for some more time, there is likelihood of the present elected government being replaced by a dictator form of government, Ibobi said adding that democracy has died in Manipur and people fear if democracy would not return.