Don't target village volunteers, urges Ranjit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2024: MLA K Ranjit has asserted that the Government must frame a policy so as to ensure that the village volunteers are not victimised.

Giving his observations on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, Ranjit pointed out that the civilians volunteered to defend vulnerable villages after the Government and its security forces failed to protect citizens and their properties.

It is the duty of the security forces, not the citizens, to safeguard the boundary of Manipur.

In the face of the State Government's failure to protect the lives and properties of citizens, many youngsters who are the future pillars of the Nation took up arms and volunteered to defend vulnerable villages.

The youngsters did not take up arms out of choice but under compelling circumstances, Ranjit said.

If the NIA is registering cases against the village volunteers, it would have serious repercussions.

To avoid such a scenario, the Government needs to take up necessary measures to protect the village volunteers, Ranjit said.

He then expressed keen desire for the Government to insert an assurance in the Governor's address to protect the village volunteers through a Government policy.

On account of the protracted crisis, the State's law and order situation has deteriorated to the extreme.

"Law is with the Government but the order has fallen in the hands of unknown armed persons in both the hills and the valley.

Even the quarters of Ministers and MLAs are no longer safe", Ranjit said.

He then urged the Government to work for resettlement of the displaced people at their original homes with foolproof security arrangements.

Pointing out that the special status of Manipur was withdrawn after the Modi Government came to power in 2014, the Congress MLA expressed his intention to seek the special status again and reflect the same in the Governor's address before the motion of thanks was passed.

Before Chief Minister N Biren left Imphal for New Delhi to attend a Niti Aayog meeting on July 26 followed by a conclave of BJP Chief Ministers, the Chief Minister told the media that he would apprise the Prime Minister about the Manipur crisis.

Some sections of the media reported that the Chief Minister held a meeting with the Prime Minister for a few minutes after the Niti Aayog meeting, Ranjit said before asking N Biren to present a report on his meeting with the Prime Minister to the people of Manipur.

Highlighting the extensive destruction caused by hailstorm, hailstones and repeated floods, the Congress MLA asserted that the State Government ought to seek a special package from the Centre.

Ranjit also underscored the urgent need to give effective security protection to all drivers and their helpers plying on NH-37 and NH-2 .

Commenting on the Governor's address which said that security forces evacuated people of both the communities to safer areas, the Congress MLA maintained that it would have been better if the villagers were not evacuated.

The evacuation and the subsequent establishment of buffer zones only sharpened division of people on communal lines and a sense of exclusivity, he said.

Th Lokeshwar pointed out that the Governor's address did not mention any Government policy to resettle the displaced people at their original homes.

Reacting to BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip's interview given to NorthEast Live in which he spoke contemptuously against the Manipur Legislative Assembly as if Manipur has already broken apart, Th Lokeshwar expressed strong desire for BJP's whip to look into the matter.

Pointing out that the Governor's address did not mention anything on resolving the Manipur crisis and restoration of peace and normalcy in the State, Congress MLA K Meghachandra maintained that the Governor's address needs certain modifications.

He then raised a motion of amendment.

Contrary to the Government's claim that essential commodities are being made available to the people at normal or cheaper prices, Meghachandra said that LPG is no longer available to a large number of consumers.

One LPG refill cylinder now costs Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 in black markets, he said.

Meghachandra said that the Governor's address should have reflected a road map to bring peace and normalcy in the State.

He said that the ongoing Manipur crisis started from within the BJP Government.

There is no unity among the Ministers and the MLAs.

Of the 55 ruling MLAs, some BJP Ministers/MLAs have been demanding a separate administration while some other MLAs/Ministers were camping at Delhi, Meghachandra asserted.

He then urged the 55 ruling MLAs/Ministers to sit together and talk with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to resolve the protracted crisis.

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