Imphal: Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh demanded a third party, which is the central government, intervention to end the 10-month-old violence in Manipur.
Speaking on the last day of the 5th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition said that enough people have been killed and enough properties were destroyed in this violence between the Meiteis and Kukis that started on 3rd May 2023.
Expressing apprehension whether the Central government was silently watching the violence until the unrest died down on its own, the veteran Congress leader said that while the country is proudly claimed to be the fourth largest military power on earth, unable to put an end to the violence is very unfortunate and longer the violence the mindset of the people will change in different ways which are not good in either way.
If the centre wanted to end this violence, it would take not less than three days, Ibobi said, while drawing the attention of the leader of the House, N Biren Singh, who is also in-charge of the State home department.
The third time Chief Minister also suggested that a conducive environment has to be created to start a political dialogue between the warring parties. A sense of confidence needs to be instilled among those who will participate in the dialogue, he added.
While reiterating his party’s full support to the NRC, which was unanimously passed in the Assembly last week, Ibobi also urged the Chief Minister to hire a few more agencies, not only BRO, to expedite the fencing along the border.
His party and members are always ready to support the state government if it starts anything to end this violence, he added.
