Ibobi questions concern of Delhi to crisis, urges revisit to idea of Manipur
Involvement of SoO cadres in violence certain : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2024: Chief Minister N Biren has categorically stated that his Government never worked in the interest of any single community.

The Chief Minister said while participating in a discussion moved by former Chief Minister O Ibobi.

Moving a 'discussion on a matter of public interest', former Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that it is time to revisit the idea of a united Manipur as questions have been raised whether Manipur belongs to a single community.

All conflicts and issues can be resolved with dialogues and this is testified by history, Ibobi said.

It is essential for an impartial third party to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue between the two warring parties, he said.

Ibobi questions concern of Delhi to crisis, urges revisit to idea of Manipur

Central Government's attention and disarmament of both parties are also crucial, he continued.

Taking part in the discussion, N Biren asserted that the Government has been working in the collective interest of all the indigenous communities of Manipur.

The resolution reaffirming an earlier resolution on updating NRC with respect to Manipur was adopted in the interest of all the indigenous communities, he said.

We are not responsible for the current crisis but some people got angry when he pointed out certain factors which led to the current crisis.

It is rather unfortunate that some people have been trying to blame the Government for the crisis", Biren said.

No doubt, it is the State's duty to protect the lives and properties of citizens but following strong suspicion that external forces have their hands in the aggression, Central Government agencies have been probing the crisis, he said.

In response to the simultaneous attacks made with sophisticated weapons from different directions and when there was not enough Central security forces, volunteers came out to fight the aggression, Biren said.

He said that there were instances where the violence could not be contained like law and order problems.

But now, the violence has been mitigated at most places.

Even then some people have been asking if the Central Government was plotting to let the people of Manipur kill each other and the State Government was doing nothing, Biren decried while appealing to all concerned to withdraw these questions.

"There is evidence of the involvement of Kuki militants under SoO pact in the ongoing violence and the State Assembly has adopted a resolution in favour of abrogation of SoO.

Let us wait and see what the Government of India does", the Chief Minister said.

In the meantime, the State Government would work to shift designated camps of SoO.

Designated camps opened near National Highways and thickly populated areas would be removed, he said.

Disarmament of both sides is a right step.

But it would take some time as SoO has not been abrogated yet, Biren told the House.

It is also crucial for an impartial third party to initiate a dialogue process.

At the initiative of the Central Government, talks were held at Delhi followed by another such meeting at Guwahati.

With the HAC Chairman taking a role, efforts are on to hold talks at different levels, the Chief Minister said.

"Objections or support expressed by other States on the question of scrapping FMR is their concern.

We have nothing to say", Biren said.

In the meantime, construction of border fence has started.

Construction of border fence along a 10 Km stretch was completed recently.

Border fencing work is currently underway along a 1 Km long hypersensitive section.

Another 20 Km long section is being demarcated, he said.

Both Central forces and State forces have been deployed in vulnerable areas, he continued.

The Chief Minister stated that MR and IRB battalions which have their headquarters at Imphal would be shifted to peripheral areas.

Earlier, O Ibobi stated that it is time to revisit the idea of a united Manipur as questions have been raised whether Manipur belongs to a single community.

All conflicts and issues can be resolved with dialogues and this is testified by history, Ibobi said.

It is essential for an impartial third party to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue between the two warring parties, he said.

Central Government's attention and disarmament of both parties are also crucial, he continued.

He decried that no policy or initiative could be seen till date to douse the raging fire of communal conflict.

"As an MLA, we feel ashamed on seeing young children volunteering to defend their villages", Ibobi said.

The prevailing situation smacks of an intention on the part of the Central Government that the people of Manipur may kill each other as much as they want.

It appears that the State Government too has been watching the crisis as a spectacle, Ibobi said.

"My observation may be wrong", he added.

But these questions stemmed from the Government of India's failure to contain the violence despite deploying a huge number of security forces, he said.

The Central Government ought to contain the violence and initiate a process of dialogue, Ibobi asserted.

He also decried Chief Minister N Biren's assertions that failures on the part of the past Governments were responsible for the current crisis.

It should not be the case of a lie ultimately appearing to be the truth after it is repeated 100 times, Ibobi said.

The former Chief Minister then presented a detailed account on SoO agreement, FMR and border fencing.

"We, Congress MLAs, fully supported the House resolution which reaffirmed an earlier resolution on updating NRC but we had to stage a walkout as the Speaker refused to pick up a private member resolution moved by four Members", he said.

There was no question of boycotting the House or abstaining from the session, he clarified.