What has the Govt done, asks Cong
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2023:
For the first time in 2000 years of Manipur's history, people in the valley are not able to move freely beyond Sekmai in the North, Kakching Lamkhai in the South, Lamlai in the East and Kangchup in the West, said senior Congress spokesperson Hareshwar Goshwami today.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee vice president held the present Government responsible for the prolonged tension and said there is law but no order in Manipur and the State is in total chaos.
MPCC leaders were distributing relief materials at Wangkhei High School Relief Camp when the senior spokesperson made the comments.
He demanded the Government to prepare and produce a white paper on the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced people.
Speaking to the inmates at the camp, Hareshwar said the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee salutes all martyrs who have sacrificed their valuable lives in defending the unity and integrity of Manipur.
"We understand that relief camps are no place for charging each other, but the deteriorating situation in Manipur has compelled us to speak out the truth and reality.
More than six months have passed with no sign of the State returning to peace and normalcy," he said.
Questioning what he said are failures of the State Government, Hareshwar said the accused "killers" have been arrested but still the remains of students, Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit have not been traced and recovered.
Further, the whereabouts of two other students, Avinash Maibam and Ningthoujam Anthony have not been traced.
The mobile internet ban has not been lifted even after six months and there are still tension and unwanted incidents of violence happening in the peripheries of the valley today.
"If the aggression is by the narco-terrorists from across the border of India, what is the great Indian Army waiting for ? Are they afraid of a few narco-terrorists ? Or are they watching more people die or be displaced ? Have the present number of dead and displaced not quenched their thirst?" Hareshwar asked.
During these six months (190 days), nearly 200 people have been either killed or are missing.
More than 61,000 persons have been displaced and forced out of their homes and villages, he said.
Months have passed but most displaced people have not been allowed to return to their original villages and settle.
How long do they have to remain in relief camps or so-called prefabricated houses as refugees in their own homeland ? he asked.
How many of them are not willing to return to their original place and why ? How will they begin their normal life all over again ? These are some of the questions the Government needs to reply and resolve, he said.
Hareshwar then urged the State Government to prepare and present a white paper on the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced persons within a stipulated time.
He then suggested certain points for consideration in the preparation of the white paper and added that the paper should be based on facts and figures gathered from actual field reports.
It must specify a clear-cut policy of the Government of Manipur like details of compensation amount, time frame for relief and rehabilitation, health and medical care, voting rights and management of electoral rolls, education of the displaced students, security arrangement, start-up policy etc.
A body composed of law makers, Security Advisors, technical experts, media persons, social workers, farmers etc should be formed to advise and suggest for execution of the works on war footing basis, he said.
MPCC secretaries Gunamani and Ram Prakash, leaders and members including Achoibam Deben, Popilal and Dayananda Sharma, and members of Wangkhei Apunba Nupi Lup were present at the relief distribution programme.
27 Jumbo Cargo bags and other relief materials were distributed to the inmates of the relief camp.
Comment
