COCOMI slams Kuldiep's contradictory statements

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 26 : The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has lambasted Security Advisor and Unified Command Chairman Kuldiep Singh as well as DGP Rajiv Singh for their contradictory statements on infiltration of 900 Kuki militants into Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, COCOMI coordinator Somorendro Thokchom said that the contradictory statements of the Security Advisor and the DGP who were sent to Manipur to tackle the protracted crisis are highly condemnable and equally detestable.
By confirming that 900 trained Kuki militants have infiltrated into Manipur only to retract the same statement  a couple of days later, the Security Advisor has been playing with the sentiments of the people, Somorendro said.
He said that the Security Advisor and the DGP have been making confusing statements without doing anything that is expected from them.
Some days back, a message sent from the Chief Minister’s office about infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants into Manipur went viral on social media.
As the COCOMI was looking into the report with doubt, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh held a press conference and boldly declared the report on infiltration was a fact.
Apart from confirming the report, Kuldiep stated that the Kuki militants have taken positions in 30 sectors after dividing them into groups of 30 men each, Somorendro recalled.
The Security Advisor also stated that Central and State forces have been directed to take up necessary measures and remain alert. These statements created deep anxiety and fear among the people who are already experiencing severe trauma.
In the meantime, several Kuki groups who have been supporting the Kuki militants have called a total shutdown on September 28  with an allegation that the Meiteis are poised to attack them.
The Security Advisor’s contradictory statements have created an impression that the Government is completely disorganised and unable to make heads or tails of the situation, he said.
He then asked how the people react when the Security Advisor has been behaving in such an irresponsible manner.
The contradictory statements of the Security Advisor have evoked public suspicion whether the Government of India has its hands in sustaining the violent crisis, he said.
Even after innocent civilians were killed by drone bombing and long range rocket attacks which were hitherto unheard of in any part of India, the Government of India did not say anything.
The COCOMI coordinator said that many people have seen Kuki militants and Indian military personnel staying or operating together.
“Now we cannot help asking if the Government of India and its armed forces do not see the Meitei people as human beings”, he said.
“Considering the highly sensitive and contradictory statements made by Kuldiep Singh and his sheer irresponsible behaviour, we don’t think Kuldiep Singh is fit for the post of Unified Command Chairman”, he continued.
The Government ought to look into the matter very seriously and remove Kuldiep Singh from the post of Unified Command Chairman, Somorendro said.
He also pointed out that the people have been already clamouring for removal of both Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh.
He went on to ask if there is any hidden agenda behind the Government of India’s inaction against the Kuki militants even after they have started bombing civilians with high-tech drones and long range rockets.
In the meantime, there are reports of the Centre mulling over re-imposition of AFSPA in the valley districts, he said.
The COCOMI coordinator then pointed out that AFSPA is a draconian law which was introduced by the British rulers to suppress the Quit India Movement or the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1942.
The Government started repealing AFSPA in pieces  after the brutal rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama. Since then, violence and killings have declined considerably, he said.
If AFSPA is re-imposed in the midst of the current crisis, there will be unimaginable killings and violence and anti-India sentiment will escalate. So any plan of re-imposing AFSPA should be aborted immediately, he said.