"Kuki MLAs merit disqualification for aiding terrorists"
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, September 15 2024:
As per the provisions of the Indian Constitution, the 10 Kuki MLAs including two ministers are supposed to uphold the prestige of the seat they have won and defend the territorial integrity of the state/country, in addition to upholding the fundamental rights.
However, the question is whether the ten MLAs are sincerely upholding the same, posed Human Rights member advocate Modhuchandra Khaidem, while further questioning whether the ten MLAs do not merit disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.
In a press meet held at his Athokpam residence on Sunday, Modhuchandra recounted that the chief minister had previously declared Kuki militant groups as terrorists.
However, as the ten MLAs are working together with the said groups, time has come to decide on disqualify the 10 MLAs, who have failed to uphold their oaths to the Constitution in addition to not attending the sessions of the Assembly and demanding separate administration alongside the Kuki terrorists, under the Tenth Schedule.
Modhuchandra also questioned the hidden intention of the central and state governments in continuing to remain silent when the 16-month long violence perpetrated by illegal Kuki militants has claimed over 200 lives and left over 60,000 people displaced, with many suffering from mental distress and some even deciding to take the extreme step of committing suicide.
He continued that the wish of the people is to see their leader execute his duties in reality and not just speak about it.
Recalling how the union home minister promised to visit the state again but did not keep his words till date, the advocate pointed out that the prime minister visited Assam when Manipur was in turmoil but ignored the people's desire to see him in person in the state.
He then questioned why the state forces are not performing up to the mark while over 60,000 central forces are deployed in the state to maintain buffer zones, something which is normally set up between two warring countries.
As such, he asked whether Manipur's issue is being considered as a conflict between two countries, while urging the same to be made clear to the people.
"Why are there incidents of central forces engaging in a standoff with state forces, when the former are actually deployed to assist the latter in the first place? Why are the state and the central forces being differentiated when they both belong to the country itself? Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was quite busy trying to spark a conflict between the Meetei and Naga communities.
The Assam Rifles have been one-sided in the conflict as well, which is why the people do not trust the central forces," he remarked.
Stating that continued incidents of violation of fundamental rights, excessive use of force against students, restriction on free speech, one-sided search operations in the valley and almost none in Churachandpur, are serious matters, Modhuchandra said that it is no longer a simple riot when drone bombs and missiles are being fired in the valley.
With the central forces staying silent, Manipur's existence under India is worrisome, consequently constraining many to call for reviewing the merger agreement with India, he added.
Urging the ministers/MLAs not to violate the trust of the Indian Constitution, the advocate requested the leaders to keep aside political differences and work together.
He also urged that the CM be handed over the chairmanship of unified command.
Further stating that banning the internet will never bring any solution other than inconveniencing the people, he reiterated that the PM and union home minister come to Manipur, a mini-India inhabited by around 34/35 communities, to bring an end to the conflict instead of continuing with the divide and rule policy so as to disintegrate Manipur.
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