Integrity of Manipur : Convene session call raised
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2023: The Senior Citizens For Society (SCFS), Manipur has appealed to the 50 MLAs who are not signatories of the demand for establishment of a separate administration to convene a special Assembly session and convey their stand on the State's integrity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi.

Addressing the media at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai today, SCFS general secretary Advocate Khaidem Mani said that the violence in Manipur is not subsiding even after all the assurances given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his stay in the State.

People expected much from the Union Home Minister but the situation in Manipur is still volatile, he added.

Saying that the conflict has taken a heavy toll on every community viz Meitei, Kuki, Naga and Meitei Pangal, K Mani continued that supply of essentials and education system are among the worst affected.

Integrity of Manipur : Convene session call raised

He claimed that the violence in Manipur is instigated by drug cartels, Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact and Myanmar based outfit PDF.

The incumbent Government in Manipur is more like a proxy one with de-facto President Rule in place, the Advocate alleged.

If there still is a Manipur Legislative Assembly then the 50 MLAs must convene a special session before the Union Home Minister comes to Manipur again and take a collective stand of the House to protect the unity and integrity of the State, K Mani urged.

The Advocate went on to state that these 50 MLAs must make their stand clear on the issue of separate administration to the Prime Minister.

There will be complete disorder if the Union Home Minister makes any statement on disintegration, K Mani cautioned.

Normalcy will return in Manipur if the Centre abrogates the SoO pact, pushes back the militants from Myanmar and withdraws Assam Rifles, he claimed.

There are many reasons why people don't want Assam Rifles to stay any longer in the State, the Advocate said and alleged that the paramilitary force blocking the entry and exit of Sugnu police station is a testament of them (the Assam Rifles) taking sides.

Secretary of SCFS RK Anand who is a human rights activist said that Manipur is in a very difficult situation now.

People don't even know whether Article 355 is promulgated in Manipur or not and the Governor didn't respond clearly when a team of ex-MLAs consulted about it, he said.

Claiming that foreign militants who have been fighting to form a homeland for Chin-Kuki people have intruded into the State, RK Anand sought prompt intervention of the Prime Minister and Defence Minister to deal with the foreign aggression.

Asking how much of the assurances given by the Union Home Minister has been delivered so far, he questioned the motives of the Centre.

If there still is a Government then the 50 MLAs must convene a special Assembly session to protect the territorial as well as administrative integrity of Manipur, RK Anand demanded and asked if there is any hidden agenda for not calling an Assembly session.

There is no guarantee that Manipur won't meet a fate similar to that of Jammu and Kashmir, he cautioned and appealed to the 50 MLAs to pressure the Centre collectively so as to keep Manipur intact.

Meeteis won't question when an indigenous Kuki is chosen as the Chief Minister of the State as done in the past to representatives of non-Meitei communities such as Rishang Keishing, Yangmaso Shaiza and Md Alimuddin, he guaranteed.

If the Chief Minister is committed to protect Manipur then he must drop the two BJP Ministers who are among those who demanded a separate administration for Chin-Kuki people from the Cabinet, RK Anand dared.