Affidavit on Manipur crisis submitted to SC panel
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 17 2024:
A team of All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur State Committee (AITUC-MSC) led by its general secretary L Sotinkumar along with AITUC-MSC Imphal East president I Tomba Singh and advocate Shamungou Singh on Wednesday submitted an affidavit related to the Manipur crisis to the Supreme Court of India-constituted Commission of Enquiry (Manipur Violence), New Delhi.
In a release, AITUC-MSC conveyed that the affidavit mentioned total breakdown of law and order in the entire state, lawlessness in the hill areas, war amounting to mass genocide perpetrated by Kuki militants, total silence of Union government over the burning crisis, lack of effective functioning of state government, and incessant blockade of NHs (lifelines of the state) for decades.
The affidavit also contained omissions and commissions committed by the Union and state governments, thereby leading to the ongoing conflict apart from pointing out that even as the people are suffering for more than eight months since May 3, 2023, the state government has miserably failed to convene the State Assembly to discuss the issue.
The release further mentioned that the affidavit noted that the double engine government has also failed to establish 'Highway Protection Force' to protect the lifelines of the state.
Extortion, kidnapping, abduction, killing of drivers and helpers, transporters, etc., are ram pant.
In fact, it is in total violation of human rights.
Prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing.
As such, the grim situation still continues if it is not attended to by authorities concerned and the double engine government of BIP, it emphasised.
The three-member AITUC Manipur delegation had on Tuesday left for Delhi to urge the Prime Minister and the union home minister take up necessary measures against frequent imposition of blockade and extortion on the national highways.
According to a statement of the union, the delegation will also call on AITUC national president, general secretary and vice-president Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswarn to discuss the current issues of Manipur and meet state CSOs leaders and political party leaders who are already in the national capital.
They will submit a seven-pojnt memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Amit Shah and road transport minister Nitin Gadkari.
The team, along with CSO members in Delhi, will organise a protest at Jantar Mantar and distribute leaflets containing the seven demands mentioned in the memorandum which include political dialogue for restoration of peace; to stop genocide of Meeteis by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists; upholding territorial integrity of Manipur; and establishing highway protection force to check blockade and extortion among others.