COCOMI asks BJP to elect a new CM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 14: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asked BJP legislators of the State to elect a new Chief Minister and see that the President’s Rule is revoked at the earliest.
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said that the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur  is one of the most undemocratic moves of the Central Government.
The Centre’s decision to impose President’s Rule is a blatant violation of the people’s democratic rights and complete betrayal of democratic principles, Athouba said.
The decision to impose President’s Rule seems to be endorsing the condition laid down by separatist Kuki groups that they will come forward for dialogue only when N Biren is removed from the post of Chief Minister and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is enforced all over Manipur, the COCOMI convenor said.
It looks like the Centre’s decision to impose President’s Rule in the State was guided by an intention to appease separatist Kuki groups, he said.
It is hard to believe that the Centre’s move to impose President’s Rule was driven by any intention to resolve the protracted crisis  or it was compelled by the voices of dissent raised by some BJP MLAs, he remarked.
At the same time, BJP legislators and legislators of other ruling parties must elect a new leader either by consensus and through internal election, and form a Government within a specific timeframe, he added.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by COCOMI  asserted that the sudden and unreasonable imposition of President's Rule, despite the BJP having an absolute majority in the State, is seen as a deliberate ploy to push Manipur further into turmoil.    
This move raises serious questions about the Central Government's true intentions, as it shifts the blame onto the alleged incompetency of its own BJP MLAs rather than addressing the real issues at hand.
This blatant power manoeuvre indicates a sinister agenda to place Manipur, particularly the Meetei community, under direct military control.
This decision conveniently aligns with the longstanding demands of Kuki militants and separatist groups who have been advocating for the imposition of AFSPA and President's Rule in Manipur, it said.
 By allowing the Central Government to manipulate the State's crisis to their advantage, the BJP leadership has jeopardized the rights and security of its own people, COCOMI said,
Furthermore, the failure of Manipur BJP legislators to propose an alternative leader despite holding a majority exposes their true intent, they never entered politics for the welfare of the people but for personal gains, it said.
Their inaction has created an opportunity for the Central leadership to interfere and impose President's Rule under the guise of a leadership crisis.
Instead of allowing the democratic process to function by conducting an internal election among the legislators, they have surrendered their responsibilities and become mere pawns in a larger political game, it said.
This undemocratic imposition of President's Rule is unacceptable and goes against the very fabric of the Indian democratic system, COCOMI said.
It demanded an immediate and time-bound process to elect a new leader and restore a popular Government at the earliest.
Failure to do so will make every BJP MLA and leader in Manipur directly accountable to the people for their political irresponsibility and betrayal, it said.
The people of Manipur must remain vigilant and united against any attempt to subjugate them under military rule. This crisis is not just about leadership, it is about the future of Manipur and the survival of its democratic rights. The people must rise against this injustice and demand the immediate restoration of a legitimate Government, it added.