Ranjit asks Centre to enforce SoO ground rules
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 18 2024: The Government of India could end the on-going crisis in the state within 10 minutes in case Union home minister Amit Shah summons all the Kuki leaders including armed organisations bound by the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement, and tells them not to violate the ground rules of the SoO pact, stated dep uty CLP leader K Ranjit.

As protection of territorial integrity of Manipur figures prominently in the preamble of the SoO the current crisis could be solved with ease if the centre tells Kuki leaders not to violate the SoO ground rules.

However, the government of India does not want to take this step, K Ranjit said on the sidelines of Congress party's nationwide 'storm the Raj Bhavan' protest on Wednesday.

The Sugnu MLA joined state Congress leaders and workers in marching towards the Raj Bhavan as a part of the protest organised by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) under the aegis of All India Congress Committee (AICC).

AICC announced the nationwide protest failure of the BJP-led Modi government and Manipur government's failure to bring back peace and normalcy in Manipur.

K Ranjit told media persons that the SoO signed during the tenure of the then Congress government contains many points.

No fresh recruitment, no extortion along national highways and no re-organisation were some of the points mentioned in the SoO preamble while the most important one was upholding territorial integrity of Manipur.

According to K Ranjit, chief minister N Biren Singh and Union home minister Amit Shah are making contradictory statements from time to time instead of finding ways to resolve the crisis.

Their incongruent stand is creating chaos in the state rather than striving to identify the real issue plaguing Manipur.

When Amit Shah visited Manipur on May 29, 2023, he cited recommendation of the High Court for ST status for Meetei/Meitei as the reason for the violence.

However, Amit Shah changed his version during the Parliament session in July, 2023 claiming external aggression as the prime factor for the violence.

Continuing his contradictory version, Amit Shah recently contended that the crisis in Manipur is ethnic clash between the Kuki and Meetei communities.

Similarly, chief minister N Biren has been inconsistent on the violence from the very beginning.

The versions of Amit Shah and CM Biren are all dissimilar.

Yet, CM Biren repeatedly claims of communicating with Central leaders round the clock, Ranjit said and asked as to why dissimilar versions are being made if there is frequent communication between the state and central leaders.

Earlier, large numbers of Congress workers trooped out from the MPCC office, BT road and tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan.

However, police and central forces intercepted them resulting in a brief stand-off.

Nevertheless, a delegation of Congress leaders was allowed to march till Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum to the Governor.

The delegation led by MPCC president K Meghachandra also included CWC member Gaikhangam, deputy CLP leader K Ranjit, MPCC chip whip and treasurer Th Lokeshwar, MLA O Surjakumar, MPCC working president Md Fajur Rahim, ex-MLAs Samuel Jendai and Md Amin Shah, MPCC vice presidents Tilotama and Hareshwar Goshwami, MPCC general secretary S Jiten, MPCC spokespersons and legal advisor Rabi Khan.

After submitting the memorandum, K Meghachandra told media persons that the Governor was apprised about the suffering of the people and urged to bring back peace and normalcy in the state.

The Governor was also apprised about the failure of Constitutional safeguards in the state and even offered to resign if unable to believe points mentioned in the memorandum, Meghachandra said adding the Governor patiently heard points raised by the delegation and gave his assurance that peace would return in the state.

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