Delhi, Imphal have miserably failed : Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05 2023:
The Opposition bloc has yet again resolved to work together to find a solution to the protracted crisis in Manipur.
The resolution was taken by the 10 parties viz INC, AAP, AITC, AIFB, Shiv Sena (UBT), RSP, CPI, CPI (M), JD (U) and NCP during a one day convention on Manipur crisis held at Hotel Imphal, today.
The convention concluded that the Centre and the State Government have failed to restore normalcy in Manipur and the silence of the Prime Minister has disappointed the people of Manipur.
The 10 parties, nonetheless, resolved to urge the Government to investigate all sorts of crime committed amid the violence without any discrimination and to talk to all stakeholders concerned to bring a lasting peace in the strife-torn State.
They also agreed to engage or lend a help in the peace process taken up by the Government and to hold protests on issues of public concern and importance.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the 10 parties, former Chief Minister and leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Okram Ibobi said that the convention dwelved on how to restore normalcy in Manipur.
Saying that the violence in Manipur completed five months a few days back and the situation remains unpredictable, he wondered what the State Government has been doing since the last many months.
Protection of lives and properties is a State subject which the Government failed to oblige, he said and added that democracy has no meaning in Manipur now.
Ibobi said that the crisis has crossed five months.
However, people are still in the stage of confusion about whether Article 355 is imposed here or not.
Security Adviser noted that the said Act is not in force yet the Chief Minister of Manipur is not Chairman of the unified command.
"Is Manipur directly ruled by the Central Government or by elected representatives of State Government," he questioned.
He claimed that the BJP Governments at the Centre and the State will undermine the ethos of democracy as long as they are in power.
He continued that the Opposition bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) was formed at the National level to save the people from the subjugation and tyrannical governance of the BJP.
Maintaining that there is deep mistrust among the people in Manipur while a particular community has been demanding disintegration of the State, Ibobi affirmed that the 10 like-minded political parties will not compromise the unity and integrity of the State under any circumstances.
Be it a demand of Kukis, Meeteis, or Nagas, the unity and integrity of Manipur should never be compromised as an appeasement policy, he asserted.
The Government is unable to control the violence in Manipur despite the heavy deployment of Central security forces, the former charged.
Asking how long the Government is planning to keep the displaced persons at relief camps, Ibobi said that law and order has failed miserably in Manipur as highlighted by the Supreme Court recently.
Instead of working out a solution, the Prime Minister has been maintaining a studied silence on Manipur violence since the last many months while Union Home Minister Amit Shah had protected Chief Minister N Biren by stating that the latter is cooperating with the Centre, Ibobi maintained.
He also said that the Government failing to rescue the two Meetei students who were abducted and murdered, though the missing complaint was lodged on time is unfortunate.