WMC pins hope on PM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 29 2024: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him to visit strife torn Manipur so as to mark the beginning of a peaceful way forward.

In a memorandum signed by its chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam, the WMC claimed that the Indian state has allowed this violence to persist and the same has descended Manipur into utter lawlessness.

Saying that things will begin to improve once the violence is over, the council expressed belief that the Prime Minister can stop this violence by visiting Manipur and conveying his commitment to end the unrest.

"Your visit and words can bring peace within 24 hours as the perpetrators of violence seem to have a good rapport with the Army and the Assam Rifles," the WMC said.

The Government of India can also abrogate the Suspension of Operation agreement with the Kuki militants and activate the Army, Assam Rifles, etc to restore order, WMC said and added the issue of Meetei youth taking up arms to defend their families, on the other hand, can be resolved once the migrant Chin-Kuki perpetrators are controlled.

The WMC also recounted the statement given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 17 last to resolve the crisis in Manipur by talking to both the warring communities viz; Meetei and Kuki.

Unfortunately, Chief Minister N Biren Singh appears to have been at a loss since the beginning of the violence, the council said and added that N Biren often speaks as a Meetei leader and it causes more harm to Manipur, particularly the Meetei community.

Further stating that the protracted crisis in Manipur has drastically deteriorated the State's condition despite the presence of thousands of Central security forces in addition to the State police, the WMC added that the Central security forces are ineffective in handling the situation despite identifying the sensitive zones possibly due to the SoO arrangement.

It seems the SoO agreement is still in effect though the same officially lapsed in February 2024, it said.

The council also said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah didn't explain why the Assam Rifles, Army etc didn't take up prompt action to arrest the violence while speaking about Manipur on the floor of the Parliament on August 9, 2023 .

Saying that the situation in Manipur is worse than the Middle East as Meetei and Kuki cannot even see one another, the WMC urged the Prime Minister to visit Manipur so as to mark the beginning of a peaceful way forward.

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