Cong slams BJP Govt's inconsistency on what sparked current violence

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 18 : Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has criticised the BJP Government for its inconsistent remarks on what triggered the unrest in Manipur.
The MP was felicitated by Mayang Imphal Bloc Congress Committee and Bengoon Youth Congress Committee at Mayang Imphal Bengoon Mayai Leikai today.
Addressing the function, Dr Bimol said that the Government has been giving inconsistent statements regarding the situation in Manipur as they actually don't know the trigger that sets off the crisis which has been gripping the State since May 3, 2023.
The Government advocates dialogue to resolve the crisis and at the same time  they say illegal immigration and narco-terrorism are the underlying factors which have been keeping the State on the boil, the MP said and asked how the Government is planning to hold a dialogue with illegal immi- grants and narco-terrorists to settle the issue.
After pointing fingers at illegal immigrants and Kuki narco-terrorists all these months, Chief Minister N Biren Singh made another contrasting statement recently regarding the root cause of the crisis in Mani- pur and the same has confused the people, the MP said.
It seems like the Chief Minister doesn't know the core issues besieging the State, Dr Bimol continued.
He also said that the movement to protect Mani-pur should not be against the entire Kuki community but against Kuki narco-terrorists who want to break the State apart.
Asking why the Government is not taking any action against the seven BJP MLAs including two Ministers who openly endorse the demand to disintegrate Manipur, the MP said that the demand being raised by the Kuki MLAs including the BJP's is a core issue which   has been keeping the State under a restive atmosphere.
Manipur, which has a history spanning  thousands of years, has been witnessing a  series of violent clashes for over 20 months, he continued and added that the Congress party has been exposing the misgovernance of BJP to keep Manipur intact.
How the BJP has been treating the people of Mani-pur by violating Constitu- tional norms is nothing but an insult, the MP added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the Manipur  issue is a manifestation of the colonial mindset of the Central leadership, Dr Bimol asserted.
The intelligence department not sharing intels about what has been happening in Manipur to the Chief Minister is also a serious issue, he said.
"Why is the Governor reviewing a security meeting and why was the Chief Minister removed as Security Advisor?", he asked.
Saying that the Government has failed miserably to protect lives and properties of the people, Dr Bimol added that  the State Government is also unable to mount pressure on the Centre to resolve the crisis.
Meeteis are now unable to traverse on land routes in hill districts, he regretted.
Asking if the Chief Minister does not have any advisor, the MP accused N Biren of making random and illogical statements often.
Saying that the Chief Minister ridiculing him for protesting outside the Parliament complex against the murder of six Meeteis including an infant was unfortunate, he added that MPs staging protest outside Parliament to raise their issue is a common affair.
He also said he wasn't given any time to address the recent Parliament session despite requesting multiple times to give him some time.
Manipur today is in a mess because someone who always obeys the command of the Centre just to secure his chair is the Chief Minister, Dr Bimol asserted.
There are also some Meeteis who want to create trouble and they are more dangerous than Kukis who want to break Manipur, the MP said while paraphrasing popular idiom "Khurakki Ena Lai Shaba".
The MP, meanwhile, appealed to the  people to defeat the BJP in the 2027 State Assembly election so as to install a people centric Government.
People must teach the Ministers and the MLAs who support the Government in the State Assembly elections, he said and added that the power of people is immense in a democracy.
Former Chief Minister O Ibobi also attended the programme. He said that the Congress party doesn't want to take political mileage by attacking the Government.
Ibobi said that he, however, wants the Chief Minister to refrain from making statements randomly without thinking.
Appealing to the Government to restore normalcy in Manipur, he added that blaming the previous Government all the time won't bring any solution.
Even if the previous Government had made mistakes, the incumbent can always rectify and make people know of what they have done, Ibobi advised.
People taking refuge in relief camps in their own State for nearly two years under the BJP Government will be scripted in history, the former Chief Minister said.
Deputy CLP leader K Ranjit and MLA Th Lokeshwor also attended the  programme, among others.