Act or step down: KIKJCC to MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 12 2023:
Accusing the State Government of being overwhelmingly dependent on the Central leadership, the Khwairam-band Ima Keithel Joint Co-ordinating Committee (KIKJCC) has asked all the elected State representatives starting from Chief Minister N Biren Singh to step down if they can't take independent decisions even when Manipur is burning.
Hundreds of womenfolk staged a sit-in protest at Khwairamband Keithel against the alleged failure of the Government to trace the two teenage boys, Maibam Avinash and Ningthoujam who went missing on November 5 .
Speaking to the media by the sideline of the protest, KIKJCC convenor L Mema said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is quite vocal whenever there are issues in other States or countries but he has been maintaining studied silence on the major crisis that has been besieging Manipur for over half a year now.
Saying that there may be a hidden agenda behind the silence of the Prime Minister and other Central leaders, she said that the inaction of the Centre is another thing but it is the inability of the State's elected representatives to take independent action which hurts the sentiment of every Manipuri more.
There is no point in having an elected Government if the Ministers/MLAs are going to be inefficient when Manipur needs them the most, she said and asked all the legislators to step down if they are only interested in securing their seats of power.
Let the people decide their own fate if the legislators can't protect them (the people) and their properties, she asserted .
Saying that the Government should do everything to drive away the Kuki militants who have been creating troubles in Manipur since May 3, in addition to abrogating the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, Mema asked why the Government is still not taking actions against the Kuki militant groups who have been violating the ground rules of SoO.
Further stating that the State Government managed to enforce law and order at Moreh by sending additional team of security forces after SDPO Ch Anand Kumar was gunned down on October 31, Mema urged the Government to take up similar action in tracing the two teenage Meetei boys who went missing on November 5 and carry out massive operations at Kangpokpi and Churachandpur.
Meeteis living at foothills and periphery of valley districts are still not safe due to the violent campaign of Kuki militants, Mema said and urged the Government to exercise its authority and control the Kuki militants.
Also urging the Government to rescue Avinash and Anthony, Mema cautioned that the MLAs and Ministers will face the wrath of the mothers if their demands are not given due attention.