Keithel committee warns ministers, MLAs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 12 2023:
Condemning alleged indifferent attitude of the state government with regard to the missing of students amid the present crisis in the state, Khwairamband Ima Keithel Joint Co-ordinating Committee has demanded the government to trace the whereabouts of the two students - Maibam Avinash and Ningthoujam Anthony, and cautioned MLAs and ministers that they would face unwanted issues if mothers of Manipur launch intense agitation.
Speaking to newspersons on the side-lines of a protest demonstrations held on Sunday demanding the state government to hand over Avinash and Anthony to their respective family members at the earliest, Committee convenor L Memma pointed out that even as the bodies of two students namely Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemjit are yet be recovered, Avinash and Anthony have also gone missing.
Though the state government claimed that those involved in the abduction of Avinash and Anthony have been arrested, no further information has been provided to the public.
Despite knowing the fact that the two students went missing after they entered Kuki dominated area, it is surprising that the government is not deploying state forces to conduct search operation and rescue the two students, she said and suggested that the government take effective steps instead of issuing statements to the media to pacify the agitated public.
Memma further said that if the chief minister, his council of ministers and all MLAs are not in a position to acknowledge and honour public sentiment, they should step down as representatives of the people.
She reiterated that ministers and MLAs will face uneasy situation if the mothers agitate.
The convenor also suggested that the present government revoke the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement signed with the Kuki militant groups by the then Congress government, as the SoO signatories are violating the ground rules.
Memma further urged the state and central governments to conduct combing operations in the Kuki dominated areas and destroy the large-scale poppy cultivations.