Cong questions PM's silence
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 04 2023: The Congress party has questioned the deafening silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi even after over one hundred people have been killed, hundreds of houses burnt down and tens of thousands of people rendered homeless over the past one month.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, MPCC president K Meghachandra lamented that the Prime Minister has not yet bothered to give even a single message of peace through radio, TV or other media when people are dying everyday in the State.

It is a matter of grave concern that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his three-day stay in the State, spoke one thing at Imphal and a totally different thing in the hill districts, he said.

Had there been a bold Government in the State instead of the 'double-engine Government', the violence raging through the State might not have happened, he rued.

If it is indeed a double-engine Government, then why the Government of India did not sent a fraction of its army which is said to be one of the strongest in the world and control the situation before there was not much casualty, Megha-chandra asked.

It is rather unfortunate that a big country like India could not control the violence raging in a tiny State like Manipur, he said.

Citing the fresh cases of gun battles at Sugnu and other areas, the MPCC president said that the violence has been only escalating.

Although a unified command has been created under the chairmanship of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, there is little coordination between State police and Central paramilitary forces, he said.

He mentioned the tense stand-off that broke out at Sugnu police station between police and Assam Rifles after the latter surrounded and blocked all entrances to the police station.

The State police is taking one role while the Assam Rifles has been taking a totally different role with regard to the ongoing violence, he remarked.

Notwithstanding the presence of Assam Rifles, BSF and Manipur Police, around 200 houses belonging to both the Meiteis and the Kukis have been burnt down in Sugnu-Serou area.

Armed Kukis burnt down around 100 houses of Meiteis including the house of MLA K Ranjit yesterday, he said.

Notably, a peace committee was formed at the initiative of K Ranjit on May 4, after the violent crisis erupted the previous day.

Several Kuki villages were also members of the peace committee.

The peace committee was able to maintain peace and harmony in Sugnu area from May 3 to May 26 even though violence was raging at different parts of the State during those days, he noted.

But all the efforts of the peace committee were reduced to nought after armed Kuki militants attacked the Meitei villages and burnt down several houses on May 27 which was followed by retaliatory actions.

The situation further escalated barely 24 hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah left the State and exchange of fire was still going on, Meghachandra said.

MPCC working president Khumanthem Debabrata said that the people have been defending themselves and working selflessly to protect the integrity and territory of Manipur as the security forces are unable to protect their lives and properties.

Noting that the Union Home Minister instructed security forces to recover the weapons snatched by civilians, Debabrata said that the Government must be knowing why the civilians snatched weapons from security forces in the first place.

MPCC vice-presidents M Hareshwar Goswami and L Tilotama were also present at the press meet.

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