Ibobi challenges Govt to remove AFSPA, buffer zones
Former CM takes swipe at BJP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 01 2026: Taking a swipe at the BJP led Government former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today challenged it to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and "buffer zones", during a conference held at the Congress Bhavan, The former CM, who is also the president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), said that the Congress, if given the chance, will remove AFSPA and all buffer zones from Manipur.

Stating that the Governments in the Centre and the State have failed to resolve the Manipur crisis, Ibobi said that the problems facing the State today were manufactured by the BJP's authoritarian rule.

Ibobi challenges Govt to remove AFSPA, buffer zones

He alleged that the BJP's "authoritarian" rule since 2017 had sown the seeds of hatred among communities which had been existing peacefully for ages.

Ibobi recalled that there were widespread protests against the brutal killing of Thangjam Manorama by the Assam Rifles, and against the Centre's opposition, AFSPA was removed from areas under the Imphal Municipal Corporation by the then Congress Government.

Ibobi recalled that a great deal of pressure was put on him by the Centre not to revoke the AFSPA.

The Act which was removed to protect the people, women has now been reimposed again under the BJP-led Government, he added.

On the other hand, the buffer zones, he said, should only exist in the border areas between countries.

The creation and enforcement of buffer zones restricting people's movement in Manipur is unheard of and unprecedented, he said.

On the difficulties facing the internally displaced persons, Ibobi said relief camps are supposed to be temporary and for providing immediate relief.

He expressed concern hinting that the camps, where displaced people are staying, have become permanent in nature.

Ibobi further expressed doubt that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister will allow relief camps to be opened for years in other States of the country.

Stating that the BJP should be taught a lesson, he urged people to give their mandate to the Congress in the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections.

If given the people's mandate, the Congress will remove AFSPA and all the buffer zones, and do what the BJP has failed, he said.

The conference on "Empowerment of Women in Politics" was organised by the Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee and City District Mahila Congress.

Leaders and members of the Congress attended the conference.

Later addressing a discussion programme held on the theme "Women Empowerment in Politics" at Heingang Mayai Leikai today, Ibobi prayed that the crisis that has been ongoing since May 3, 2023, does not recur.

Saying that the crisis is a result of the Government's failure to enforce law and order, the Congress leader maintained that thousands of people, including women and children, have been languishing in relief camps like poultry for years.

These IDPs still don't know when they would be able to return to their native places, he said.

He also claimed that neither the State Government nor the Centre had taken any concrete measures to resolve the crisis.

The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister would not have remained silent had a similar crisis occurred in other States such as Gujarat, Rajasthan or Maharashtra, Ibobi charged.

Manipur is a small and economically disadvantaged State, but the Government's response to the crisis is concerning, he said, questioning whether the Government is allowing people to kill one another.

Further questioning the agenda of the Central leadership as people continue to die regularly, he said that the conflict between two communities in the hill districts continues unabated despite the deployment of tens of thousands of Central security personnel.

It is time for the people to teach the BJP Government a befitting lesson and work towards restoring normalcy in Manipur, he said.

Saying that the BJP would try to influence people through muscle and money power during the election, he urged the people to remain vigilant and exercise their franchise judiciously.

The programme was also attended by All India Mahila Congress Committee president Alka Lamba.

She said that the crisis in Manipur would not have escalated had the Prime Minister intervened at the initial stage instead of undertaking foreign tours.

Claiming that the Prime Minister remained silent even when children and women were killed in the most merciless manner, she urged the people to reject the BJP in the election.