IMPHAL, Nov 10: With no sign of resolving the more than six
month long crisis unfolding in Manipur, 10 like-minded
opposition political parties on Thursday questioned whether
the Centre and the Manipur government are intentionally
prolonging the crisis.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club in
Imphal, leaders of the 10 political parties –AAP, AIFB, AITC,
CPI, CPI(M), INC, JDU, NCP, RSP and SS(LBT) – flayed that the
prevailing situation in the state is almost similar to having
two separate administrations.
Spokesperson of the opposition bloc, Khondram Gyaneshwor
said that there is a suspicion that the government of India
and Manipur government are intentionally prolonging the
crisis in the state when no concrete step has been taken up
so far to resolve the crisis even after more than six months.
The prolonged crisis has not only affected the Meiteis and
Kukis in conflict but also other communities residing in the
state. Owing to the prolonged unrest, all sections of the
society face hardships, he said.
He alleged that authorities of the government remain silent.
For instance, the state government had not taken up any
action to trace whereabouts when two students
–Linthoingambi and Hemanjit –went missing, he also said.
It was only after the public uprising after the photos of
alleged murder of the two students went viral on social
media, that too, after more than two months, that the
government initiated action to trace the whereabouts of the
two students.
The state security forces could not enter Moreh, the restive
border town of Manipur until SDPO Moreh Ch Anand Kumar
was killed in a sniper attack by suspected Kuki militants, he
also said.
The state government swung into action and moved to the
border town within a day after the killing of the senior police
officer, Gyaneshwor also said.
These incidents led to questioning whether the Centre and
the state government are intentionally prolonging the crisis
unfolding in the state and remain as silent spectators, the
spokesperson of the opposition parties further said.
Meanwhile, the prolonged crisis has divided Manipur
virtually while almost granting the separate administration
demanded by the 10 Kuki MLAs including two ministers of
the BJP-led government in the state, he said.
For more than six months since the crisis erupted on May 3
last, no Meitei can pass through Kuki dominated hill areas. At
the same time, Kukis are unable to come down to Meitei
dominated valley areas, he pointed out.
The spokesperson of the 10 parties continued whether the
state government is going to remain doing nothing on the
recent disappearance of the two teenagers until a mass
movement of the people comes up.
He asked whether the state government is going to remain
hands folded with regard to the missing of the two boys,
leaving them to their fates.
The 10 like-minded political parties will extend support to the
state-wide bandh call given by the JAC formed in connection
with the disappearance of the two teenagers on November
10, he said.
The bloc of the opposition parties will also support all future
courses of agitations to be launched by the JAC if the state
government fails to rescue the duo unharmed, he said. (NNN)
