NPP explores likely remedial steps with Bhalla

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 13: A 7-member delegation of the National People's Party (NPP) led by its National vice president and former Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar called on Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at his official residence at Raj Bhavan Imphal and discussed the crisis facing Manipur today.
The NPP team discussed the ongoing conflict with the Governor and shared suggestions to resolve the issues.
The delegation assured the Governor NPP's "full support" in every effort to resolve the conflict.
Led by its National vice president Yumnam Joy-kumar, the NPP team included Kshetrigao AC MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Naoriya Pakhang-lakpa AC MLA Soibam Subhaschandra, State unit vice president U Ramesh, general secretary (admin) Rusel Heisnam, general secretary (org) RK Rameshwar and general secretary (IT & Frontal org) Laitonjam Jayanand.
Briefing media persons at NPP's office at Naorem-thong after the meeting with the Governor, Yumnam Joykumar said the NPP re-submitted a memorandum, which was earlier submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to the Governor and shared suggestions aimed at addressing the conflict and the crises facing the State today.
During the meeting, the NPP team urged the Governor to hold Unified Command meetings routinely and regularly for prompt security actions and establishing good communication within the agencies.
"Governor Ajay Kumar has been the Home Secretary and as such, he must have a clear understanding of the conflict and issues in Manipur. Shortly after his appointment as the Governor, he held a meeting of the security officers in the Unified Command and took bold steps to establish and enforce rule of law," said Joykumar.
Recently, when Kangpokpi SP was attacked and hurt, the Governor rushed Central security forces in the district to control violence and establish rule of law. The NPP appreciated the Governor for this during the meeting, Joykumar said.
"The violent conflict has persisted in the State for lack of rule of law on both sides--Meitei and the Kukis. Violence will die down and the conflict may be resolved once the rule of law is enforced effectively. We have urged the Governor to act on this," Joykumar added.
Meanwhile, the memorandum urged the Governor to take up confidence building measures, said the former Deputy CM.
He said the memorandum asked the Government to put in place appropriate security measures to allow Kukis of Churachandpur and elsewhere to have secure access to Imphal airport, and for Meiteis to have safe and secure access to the Highways passing Kangpokpi and other Kuki dominated areas.
The memorandum demanded deployment of adequate security forces and immediate actions to curb bandh/blockades along National Highways and illegal taxation/extortion.
Further, it urged the Government to complete the Railway line to Imphal within a year.
During the meeting today, the NPP team urged the Governor to meet and talk to village volunteers in the valley as a step towards resolving the conflict, Joykumar said.
While a peace committee is of utmost importance to resolve the conflict and restore peace, the committee which was formed earlier has failed. The NPP team underscored the significance of forming a new and working peace committee to the Governor to restore peace, he said.
"To resolve the conflict, it is important for the people on both sides to see the State Government as a neutral authority which has the interests of all communities on board. The present Government must reflect this in its actions," Joykumar said.
Further, the NPP delegation discussed the conditions of the internally displaced persons with the Governor.
"People have lost their homes. Building prefabricated houses will not resolve the crisis. As long as there are internally displaced people in relief camps, the crisis and the conflict will not end. We strongly urged the Governor to put pressure on the Centre to allow the displaced people to return to their original villages and rebuild their homes," Joykumar said.
"The Governor took our suggestions seriously. We believe he will act on the suggestions we shared to resolve the conflict and restore peace," Joykumar added.