Chief Minister petitioned on crisis in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 06 2024: Expressing serious concern over the crisis gripping the state for over nine months, three groups of Manipuri diaspora namely Meitei Yaipha Lup (Europe), Global Manipur Federation and World Meetei Council on Tuesday submitted a joint memorandum to the chief minister with a charter of demands on Tuesday.

Addressing media persons in this regard at Manipur Press Club, here, on Tuesday, World Meetei Council chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam said that despite being from different parts of the globe the three organisations have been collectively participating in issues concerning the state for the last many years.

Though Manipuris settling in different parts of the world have gained citizenship of the countries concerned, their heart and soul are still in Manipur, Nabashyam said, adding that as the Manipuri diaspora cannot remain indifferent to hardships besetting people of their place of origin, they submitted a memorandum to chief minister N Biren Singh via email containing grievances and suggestions for the government to stop the violence.

He further informed that the memorandum sought explanation on steps taken up, if any, by the government to ensure safety and security of all communities, process to hold accountable those responsible for instigating and perpetrating the violence, measures to provide rehabilitation and compensation to the crisis victims, promote inter-community dialogue and reconciliation, counter negative narratives against the Meeteis in the international as well as forums like UN, European Parliament, etc., and whether the government has initiated dialogue process to bring about a political solution to the crisis.

The memorandum also maintained that the government has failed to protect the lives and property of the people, he said and added that the inability of the government to stop illegal immigrants and poppy plantations and withdrawal of the SoO agreement with the armed Kuki militants has led to the present crisis.

Nabashaym also said that the SoO agreement which will lapse this month should not be extended further.

The government should bear in mind that majority of Manipuris oppose the SoO agreement, he cautioned.

Comment