Imphal: Six ex-MLAs of Manipur came together with a strong commitment to protect and foster the territorial, administrative and emotional integrity of Manipur.
The group of ex-MLAs also came down heavily on Prime Minister Narender Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh for their failure to protect the lives and properties of citizens of Manipur as also their inability to stop the communal clashes which have been going on for the last more than five months.
Ex-MLAs, O Joy, Mangi Singh, Sarat, Y Surchandra, Jayantakumar, Nimaichand Luwang, I Hemochandra and RK Anand recounted the various failures of both the BJP governments in the Centre and the State in a press conference at Manipur Press Club on Wednesday.
“The present crisis in Manipur is a conspiracy to put a wedge between different communities”, said veteran politician O Joy. He termed the present situation in the state as the worst Manipur has ever faced in its history. The refusal of the Prime Minister and Home Minister to meet the Manipur MLAs is akin to treating Manipur as not part of India.
“How can 10 MLAs who are talking about disintegrating Manipur be still MLAs of the Manipur Legislative Assembly or for that matter ministers” O Joy wondered. Questioning the silence of the BJP, he asked what action JP Nadda was taking against these MLAs.
“The refusal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to meet Manipur MLAs is akin to treating Manipur as not a part of India”, O Joy exclaimed. Putting the onus of finding a long-term settlement of the present crisis on the Centre he urged Prime Minister Modi to initiate a dialogue between the two communities.
Hemochandra strongly condemned the inaction and inability of the State government to save the two young souls, Hijam Lingthoingambi and Hemanjit Phijam and accused it of acting only when the photos of them in captivity and their dead bodies lying slumped went viral. Stating that it is for the people themselves to find a solution and urged everyone to come forward and contribute towards finding a final settlement.
Nimaichand while addressing the media persons said that only Modi and Amit Shah can bring peace as Biren cannot do anything but “the problem is they are not interested as they have their eyes only on the 2024 Lik Sabha elections”.
Surchandra asked why no action was taken against the Assam Rifles’ troops for the killing of two protesters. He also demanded the immediate sacking of the person who ordered the use of extreme force on peaceful student protestors.
