Political parties call for harmony
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 02 2024:
Lauding all the people and organisations which took up swift measures to prevent misunderstanding between Meeteis and Meitei-Pangals over the last night's Lilong incident, the bloc of 10 political parties has called for unity and communal harmony among religious communities in Manipur.
Leaders and members of the State units of AAP, AIFB, AITC, CPI, CPI (M), INC, JDU, NCP, RSP, Shiv Sena (UBT) observed two-minute silence over the death of four persons at Lilong during a meeting of the the 10 political parties held at Congress Bhavan, today.
The meeting resolved to support the Bharat Nyay Yatra which is set to begin from Manipur on January 14 .
Speaking to the media after the meeting, MPCC president K Meghachandra said that the New Year day in Manipur was filled with tragic incidents.
Sharing the pain and sorrow of the victim families of the Lilong incident, the Congress leader urged the Government to take up immediate actions to improve the law and order situation in Manipur.
He also extended solidarity with the security personnel who sustained injuries in Kuki militants' attacks at Moreh.
The Government must take full responsibility for all the bloodshed and unlawful activities taking place in Manipur, Meghachandra said while urging the Government to enforce law and order strictly and restore normalcy.
He also sought support from all walks of life in restoring normalcy in the State and building communal harmony.
Appealing to one and all not to see the last night's Lilong incident from a communal angle, the Congress leader urged the Government to investigate the incident (Lilong firing) and uncover the truth.
Continuing that the Kuki militants have intensified their attacks against security forces at Moreh since the last couple of days, he said that Manipur entered the New Year with multiple incidents of violence and tragedy and it was disheartening.
There is no respite from violence in Manipur, Meghachandra said and asked what the Government has been doing since the last eight months.
Senior vice president of JD (U), State unit Kh Loken, on the other hand, appealed to the people to exercise restraint.
Saying that the State Government has failed to protect the lives and properties of citizens, Loken added that the Government must take full responsibility for all things happening in Manipur since the violence broke out on May 3 .
He said that the State cannot afford to see another clash and as such people must exercise maximum restraint and make sure the Lilong incident doesn't recur elsewhere.
Saying that they tried many times to meet the Prime Minister but the latter didn't give them any chance, Loken asked whether the Centre doesn't see the people of Manipur as bonafide citizens of India.
Former secretary of CPI, Manipur State Council L Sotinkumar asked the Government to institute a judicial inquiry into the Lilong incident.