Cong MLA tongue lashes union ministers
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 29 2023:
While questioning the total silence and absence of union ministers with regard to the prevailing conflict in Manipur even though they used to visit the state every other day before May 3, Khundrakpam AC and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar has posed whether the objective of their previous visits was to spew venom amongst the different communities of the state.
The MLA made the statement while extending his condolences to the family of Laimayum Prem of Khundrakpam Awang Leikai, who passed away on Sunday.
Prem was one of the many village volunteers who were injured in the Khamenlok incident on June 12 and had been undergoing treatment at Rajmedicity.
Expressing his anguish and sorrow over Prem's demise, Lokeshwar remarked that both the central and state governments have been continuously saying they are working for resolving the conflict but no concrete action has been taken up till date.
Prem knew the importance of protecting the state's integrity, which the government seems to be ignorant about.
He (Prem) believed that Manipur does not belong to one community but to all indigenous communities, and went on to give up his life for this belief.
While the conflict is entering the sixth month, it would be unwise on the part of the government to ignore the impending plans of the Kukis in November, although some have ignored it as merely a rumour.
The union ministers, who used to visit the state every other day, are avoiding the Manipur's conflict, making it seem as if their previous visits to the state were meant to drive wedge amongst the people.
However, the main blame for the conflict lies on the heads of the union home minister and the chief minister, who is also in charge of the state's home department, Lokeshwar asserted.
The MLA contended that the people had to take over the responsibility of protecting the state s integrity after the government failed to do so.
The government has also failed to live up to its assurances of assisting those who have died or injured during the violence, including free treatment and compensation, thereby compelling the people to fend for themselves.
Meanwhile, the harvest season is almost at the end but there are risks of the harvested crops being damaged by anti-social elements.
Thus, the government should uphold its assurances to provide security at the earliest, in addition to deployment of at least 50 security personnel in conflict-prone or risky areas as soon as possible, Lokeshwar urged.