Imphal: Charging that Manipur remained a bitterly divided society, and the government hasn’t taken up any concrete steps to bring peace, relief and justice for those still suffering from the violence that began on May last year, the Congress on Saturday urged the Centre to bring rule of law to the state if it’s a part of the country.
There’s a complete collapse of administration in Manipur. The continuing silence and inaction of the Prime Minister is an injustice to the people of the state, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Saturday.
Citing the example of ‘brutal assault and torture’ of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Keisham Meghachandra allegedly by members of Arambai Tenggol on January 24 during a public meeting at Kangla, the Leader of Opposition in the Parliament said governments come and go, but it’s the responsibility of the constitutional functionaries to ensure that democratic structure, institutions and process are protected and preserved.
“I write to you on a matter of very grave concern. It has been almost nine months since Manipur erupted in violence, and the situation has only turned from bad to worse,” Kharge wrote, citing a meeting of all MLAs, Ministers and MPs which was held in the historical Kangla Fort in Imphal – a place that was heavily guarded by central and state security forces on January 24.
Many members present in the meeting were compelled and coerced to attend this meeting by an armed group, Kharge wrote without mentioning the armed group. During the meeting, MPCC president and MLA Wangkhem Constituency, K Meghachandra was brutally assaulted and tortured, he added.
The veteran Congress leader said the shocking incident had happened despite the heavy presence of Central and state security forces and intelligence personnel. Till date, no action has been taken either by the State or the Central government on this very disturbing subversion of the democratic process by non-state actors.
It’s shameful that the Prime Minister’s eloquent silence when it comes to Manipur seems to be the prevailing strategy from all important stakeholders in both the state and centre, Kharge added.
