Manipur crisis tops menu of Unity Meet
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 21 2023:
Ten opposition party leaders from Manipur recently met with Communist Party of India (CPI) leaders in New Delhi to discuss the matter pertaining to the violence in the state and strategies for mounting pressure on the Central government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to intervene and address the situation.
The opposition leaders emphasised the urgency of the Manipur issue and expressed their commitment to prioritise it over other political objectives.
They criticised the state and central governments for their alleged negligence resulting in escalating violence in the state.
D Raja, general secretary of CPI, spoke to the media after the meeting, stating that their discussions would not stop there.
He revealed that an opposition unity meeting is scheduled to take place in Patna on Friday, where the Manipur issue will be the main topic of discussion.
Raja accused the ruling government of intentionally dividing the community in Manipur for electoral gain, referring to them as a "double engine government " controlled by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He also criticised Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States, arguing that while the Prime Minister addresses the Indian diaspora abroad, he fails to address the concerns of the people within India.
Raja emphasised that the Manipur crisis has become a national crisis that needs immediate attention.
Former chief minister Okram Ibobi, who met the CPI leaders along with other opposition leaders, expressed his frustration on lack of action by both the state and central government.
Accusing the government of prioritising political gains over resolving the issues at hand, Ibobi said, "What concerns me is that state and Centre are doing nothing, Kuki and Meitei BJP leaders are falling in the garb of politics, nothing will come out of it" .