Situation not conducive for polls: Dr Meinya
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 18 2024:
Former Lok Sabha MP Dr Thokchom Meinya has remarked that the present situation in Manipur is not suitable for holding the parliamentary elections.
He made the statement as chief guest at the sixth foundation day celebration of Old Age Home, Langjing Achouba on Sunday.
According to Dr Meinya, village volunteers are guarding the periphery areas, as others are in their homes, worried about the unforeseeable future.
In the midst of such a precarious situation, it is not right to talk about elections or related activities, he stressed and suggested that any election in Manipur be conducted after normalcy is restored.
Reminding that Lok Sabha election was not conducted in Assam when the foreigner issue was at its peak but held after a year, he said that the same move to postpone the polls was followed in Punjab owing to the Khalistan movement.
As such, the upcoming polls in Manipur should be deferred to a later date, he proposed, adding that the power lies in the hands of the people.
The former MP then observed that the CM seems to be trying his level best to end the current situation.
Elections are a form of war without weapons in a democracy.
If real arms are involved there is no meaning to democracy, he remarked.
The programme was attended by Old Age Home Langjing Achouba advisor RK Maipaksa-na and up-adhyakshya Imphal West ZP Bobby Devi among others.