Centre answerable on forces' incompetency: MMWO
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 09 2023:
Questioning if the unified command had de-ployed thousands of central forces in the state to restore peace without studying the ground situation; Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisa-tion (MMWO) has demanded the union home minister and defence minister to answer to the people of Manipur why the central forces have been deployed with limited powers.
Addressing a press meet held at its Hatta head office on Sunday, MMWO pres-ident Boboy Korimayum urged the central government and state's security advisor Kuldiep Singh not to take up actions meant to pacify the people momentarily.
He said that the people are currently in extreme survival mode but the security advisor seems completely ignorant of this fact, which is highly wor-risome.
In addition, banning the internet is counterproduc-tive especially with regard to teaching and online digital businesses, including the re-mote workers.
The two na-tional highways, regarded as the lifeline of Manipur, have been the haven for ex-tortionists which the gov-ernment has been unable to solve till date, maybe due to the "weakness" of the 32,000 security personnel present in the state, he remarked, while urging traders and drivers working with self-interests not to do things which could hurt the sentiments of all concerned, especially amid the prevailing situation.
Boboy pointed out that whenever any form of vi-olence occurred in other parts of the country, the central government always took swift action in restoring peace and normalcy within the shortest time possible.
He questioned if the action was swift because the places were of high revenue, while Mani-pur is a low revenue state.
It is unfortunate of the central government to underestimate the strategic importance of Manipur.
While the people of the state have repeated-ly urged for installing the border fencing, the central government ignored the pleas, which resulted in the present crisis.
The MMWO president then chided political parties for engaging in blame games and doing political stunts to gain political mileage for the upcoming elections in 2024 and 2027.The political parties should instead work together to bring normalcy in the lives of the people, he suggested.
Contending that Meitei Pangal are ready to sacri-fice themselves for the land, Boboy said that various his-torical chronicles are witness to the community's selfless sacrifices, not to mention of the present generation ready to inherit this legacy of our forefathers.
He continued that the people of Manipur have defended the land and its integrity on many occa-sions and will continue to do so.
The central government must understand the people's lack of trust upon it and the central forces deployed in the name of protection, he remarked.