Former chief minister of Manipur stressed that steps should be taken by the Union Government to ensure availability of essential commodities by keeping the two national highways open and secure at all times. He also added that all armed groups must be disarmed immediately without any compromise.
TFM Report
The all-party meeting organised by the Home Minister in Delhi on Saturday was just “an eye-wash and a formality”, said the Indian National Congress leader Jairam Ramesh commenting on the meeting convened by the Union Home Minister.
The senior Congress leader stated, “As the principal Opposition party, our representative the senior most leader from Manipur, 3-time elected CM Okram Ibobi Singh, was not allowed to present his points representing the pain and anguish of the people of Manipur. He was the only leader from Manipur in the all-party meeting today, and it is an insult not only to the former CM and the Congress party, but the people of Manipur, that their representative was not allowed to fully put forth his point of view. We are sharing the 8 points on behalf of @INCIndia, which includes the immediate removal of the CM of Manipur, without which no progress can made towards peace and normalcy in Manipur”.
The all-party meeting organised by the Home Minister today was just an eye-wash and a formality.
As the principal Opposition party, our representative the senior most leader from Manipur, 3-time elected CM Okram Ibobi Singh, was not allowed to present his points representing… pic.twitter.com/XMjfWXYHBa
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 24, 2023
The main points made by Former Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh include the following:
1. This All-Party meeting should have been chaired by the PM who has not said a single word on Manipur in the past 50 days.
2. This All-Party meeting would have been better if it had been chaired by the PM and had been held in Imphal. This would have sent a clear message to the people of Manipur that their pain and distress is also a matter of national anguish.
3. All armed groups must be disarmed immediately without any compromise.
4. The state government has failed miserably in providing effective governance when it has been needed most. The Chief Minister himself has admitted publicly twice his failure to handle the situation and deal with the crisis. He has also asked for forgiveness of the people. On March 11, 2023 he unilaterally withdrew the state government’s commitment to the tripartite Agreement on Suspension of Operations with certain militant groups claiming to be upholders of Kuki interests. This move of his was later rejected by the Union Home Ministry but by then enough damage had been done. This is one glaring example in a series of blunders.
5. The unity and territorial integrity of Manipur should not be compromised with in any manner.
6. Grievances of each and every community must be heard and addressed sensitively.
7. Steps should be taken by the Union Government to ensure availability of essential commodities by keeping the two national highways open and secure at all times.
8. A package of relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, and livelihood for the affected people must be prepared without delay. The relief package announced is grossly inadequate.