Change of guard must for peace in Manipur: Conrad
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 19 2024: National People's Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said that no effective steps would be possible in Manipur without change of guard.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Conrad Sangma highlighted that the ongoing crisis in Manipur, marked by a year and a half of law and order disruptions, has roots in historical and socio-political complexities.

"The issue is complicated, and various factors have exacerbated it.

While some efforts were made to control the situation, they were insufficient," Sangma noted.

Sangma pointed out that despite attempts by both the state and central governments, the core problem lay in the "confidence and trust" of the people.

According to him, effective intervention could not be achieved because of a growing trust deficit.

"People need to believe that the system and government will work for them, " he said, emphasising the urgent need for leadership that could inspire public confidence.

The NPP chief remarked that the current state administration's actions had failed to reassure the populace.

"A change of guard is necessary.

Without it, whatever peace talks or efforts are made will not yield results," Sangma stressed.

"I have had multiple discussions with the union home minister and other senior leaders.

We stressed that the situation in Manipur is deteriorating and needs urgent attention," he stated.

However, the steps taken were not effective enough due to the persistent trust deficit.

NPP's decision to withdraw support wasi not intended as pressure on the BJP but rather as a moral stand, Sangma explained.

"It's about conscience and ensuring peace.

We are not trying to prove who is right or wrong.

We just want a solution that restores peace in Manipur," he said, reiterating that without leadership change, any steps taken would lack public trust and fail to bring the desired stability.

The Meghalaya CM warned that without significant action from the central government, the situation in Manipur could worsen.

"If the government does not act now, things could become very disturbing.

Manipur is already burning," Sangma said, underscoring the urgency of concrete measures.

While acknowledging that he did not have a clear solution, Sangma suggested that building trust among the people would be the first essential step.

"If peace talks are to be initiated, the current leadership would not be acceptable to many stakeholders," he said.

For any meaningful dialogue to occur, the government needs to create an environment where people feel comfortable and believe that their concerns will be genuinely addressed.

Despite withdrawing support in Manipur, Sangma clarified that the NPP remains an ally of the BJP in other northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.

However, he emphasised that in Manipur, the current leadership had "deteriorated the situation to the extent that it is very difficult to go back" .

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