ECI urged not to hold LS polls in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 06 2024: A written request with signatures of 10,000 people belonging to different walks of life has been sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI) not to conduct the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur in view of the conflict situation, said Coordinating Committee for Crisis Resolution Manipur convenor O Sumatibala.

Addressing a press meet held at Irawat Bhawan, BT Road, here, on Wednesday, 0 Sumatibala said that violence in Manipur is continuing unabatedly and the recent session of the Assembly failed to come up with any resolution to put an end to the violence.

The government's excuse of commencement of talks will not do anything when bullets are still raining down on the people.

Citing possible formal announcement for the 18th Lok Sabha elections soon, Sumatibala informed that the Committee had written to ECI and also to CEO Manipur on Wednesday, requesting not to hold the elections in the state.

She recounted that a signature campaign was launched in January this year against conduct of the elections till end of the violence.

So far, the campaign has collected around 10,000 signatures and is still continuing to collect more.

Majority of the people do not want conduct of the polls until solution is brought to the conflict.

She also contended that in-spite of the CM claiming gradual restoration of peace and normalcy in the state, the ground reality contradicts such remarks as could be comprehended from around 60,000 displaced people still living in relief camps.

Though the ECI objective is conduct of elections in a free and fair manner, how could the elections be held amidst the chaos and confusion in the relief camps, she questioned.

While contending that Meeteis are denied their right to life, right to property and freedom of expression, as enshrined in the Constitution for all citizens of India, Sumatibala further said that the fundamental rights could be considered non-existent as well.

She continued that despite being aware of involvement of external forces in the ongoing conflict, the central government is continuing to feign ignorance.

The people have been suffering immensely due to the conflict and as such, the government should understand that it would be unreasonable to hold the elections amid such atmosphere, she remarked.

In addition, the state government should stop making careless statements.

ECI must have asked both the central and state governments about the prevailing situation in Manipur.

However, both the governments must have given false information, which prompted the Commission to make preparations for the polls.

There has been none from Manipur among the list of BJP candidates announced in the past few days but the poll preparations are visible to all, she said.

Sumatibala then said that the CM had clearly stated that settlement of foreign immigrants in Kuki inhabited areas.

The sudden increase in numbers of voters by 51.7 per cent in a single constituency in just a decade underscores presence of illegal voters.

"How can the elections be held without identifying the real voters from the fake ones?" she questioned, and added that the same has been mentioned in the letter to ECI.

Furthermore, border fencing, suspension of FMR and implementation of NRC alone cannot resolve the current violence.

Both the central and state governments should look into the real cause of the violence and help restore peace and normalcy in the state.

Only after this, can the elections be held, she asserted.

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