Naga-Kuki clash different from present crisis: Gaikhangam ‘Why aren't Meitei, Naga, Kuki MLAs together ?’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 17: Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Gaikhangam has categorically asserted that present crisis is different from the Naga-Kuki clash.
Referring to certain statements made by a Cabinet Minister recently, Gaikhangam maintained that it would be wrong to compare the present crisis with the Naga-Kuki clash.
Speaking to some reporters at his Mantripukhri residence today, Gaikhangam asserted that the two conflicts are two different issues and their causes are different, he said.
During the Naga-Kuki clash, the then Government worked hard to resolve the  issue. Ministers/MLAs belonging to both Nagas and Kukis went together and talked with villagers of both the communities.
Informing the public that the conflict was created by some miscreants belonging to both the Nagas and Kukis, the legislators worked collectively to bring peace, he said.
Meitei, Kuki and Naga legislators must go to different places of both the hills and the valley together and talk with the people in order to bring an end to the violence, he said.
He then questioned the inability of the Meitei, Kuki and Naga legislators to work together under the incumbent Government.
He further asked, “Why were buildings located in between the Chief Minister’s bungalow and the Raj Bhavan allowed to be torched ? Why were the houses in Churachandpur allowed to be burnt down despite the presence of a large number of security forces ?”
The houses were burnt despite the presence of a large number of security forces because the Government was not doing its duties efficiently, Gaikhangam said.
Gaikhangam remarked that the Government says one thing and does something different.
He accused the Government of deceiving the people by claiming that normalcy has returned to the State.
Even though the violence is more than 14 months old, the Government is yet to bring out a road map for restoring peace and normalcy.
Instead of working sincerely for a solution, the incumbent Government has been blaming the previous Congress Government, he said.
Statements given by the Government on the protracted crisis are utterly inconsistent, he said.
Gaikhangam then expressed keen desire for the Government leaders to maintain a consistency in what they say and what they are doing.
This is not criticism but suggestion for the good of all, he said.
To a query raised by media persons on the altercations regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the State, the CWC Member  maintained that the Government of Manipur ought to appreciate Rahul Gandhi for visiting Manipur three times in the midst of the violent crisis.
As the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur with a noble intention to explore a solution and bring peace in the State, Gaikhangam said.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim in the Rajya Sabha that the violence has subsided and peace is returning to Manipur, the Opposition leader came to Manipur to verify the Prime Minister’s claim on the ground.
He was here to interact with the people directly and exert pressure on the Government both inside the Parliament and outside in order to bring a solution to the crisis.
Rahul Gandhi did not see any improvement in the State’s situation during his third visit from his earlier visits.
Rahul Gandhi was here to lessen the suffering of the people. But some people were saying that the Opposition leader visited Manipur to add fuel to the fire and worsen the crisis. Such nefarious propaganda driven by the intention to score political gains was  rather unfortunate, Gaikhangam decried.
He went on to ask why the Government was so furious when Rahul Gandhi visited ailing people and appealed to the authorities concerned to send doctors for proper treatment of the ailing people.
The Government was doing nothing for treatment of the ailing and suffering people in time, he said.
He then expressed keen desire for the Government to focus on exploring a solution and restoring peace in the State.
On being asked if he would like to suggest any specific steps to the Government to bring peace and normalcy in the State, the CWC Member said that the Government needs to work sincerely with a strong political will.
With the Chief Minister, the Cabinet Minister and the ruling MLAs not working sincerely, people’s faith in the Government is diminishing day by day, he said.
The Government needs to keep its own words, he added.
Instead of blaming each other, all must first focus on putting an end to the violence.
If the Government, its Ministers and MLAs work together and sincerely, the crisis can be resolved and peace can be restored, he said.
Saying that violence would not bring anything positive except destruction, he appealed to both the warring communities to stop the violence.
The hills and the valley are inseparable parts of Manipur. There can be no Manipur without the hills or the valley, he asserted.
Likewise, Meitei, Naga and Kuki communities of Manipur can never be separated. If someone is harbouring any intention to destroy the integrity of Manipur, he/she would be committing a grave sin, he added.