Ten political parties in Manipur have accused both the Centre and the State governments of trying to sideline the main reasons behind the crisis in Manipur by taking shelter to the theory of "conspiracy by outside militant organisations with an intent to assault India", a memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey.
Leaders of the political parties, marching towards the Raj Bhavan to submit the memorandum from the Congress Party's Office, were blocked by the security forces on their mid-way. Representatives of the parties later submitted the Memorandum for rebuilding peace in the State.
The ten political parties are of the view that finding a solution by correctly analyzing the causes behind the crisis requires no emphasis. They suggested that it is high time for the Centre and State authorities to engage in a peace process to bring normalcy to the state, thus requested the Governor to arrange for handing over of the mortal remains of victims to their respective families at the earliest.
In the memorandum, the political parties highlighted their dissatisfaction over the State and Centre governments in handling the present crisis in Manipur with regards to the delay in bringing peace, relief and rehabilitation and also issuance of prohibitory orders preventing the citizens from exercising of their fundamental rights. They alleged that both the Centre and State governments have chosen the path of non-intervention to the crisis of clash between the ethnic groups in Manipur.
Inspite of the fact that the present crisis in Manipur is now more than five months, there is no sign of meaningful peace talks with the concerned stakeholders. Rather, the governments are trying to sideline the main reasons behind the crisis by taking shelter to the theory of conspiracy by outside militant organization with intent to assault India, the Memorandum stated.
Since the Governments have failed to manage the serious crisis of law and order in the State, the local civil societies formed by many sections of the societies were trying to fill the gap of missing governance by resorting to various forms of agitations and pronouncements, it added.
The political parties also stated that they have come across various prohibitory measures by the State government to prevent the citizens from exercising their fundamental rights like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, constructive criticism of the government, etc. "Both the Central and State governments and vigilante groups, which are encouraged by them, have also created panic amongst the people and not allowing people to express their fundamental rights and voices which is against the Constitution and democratic norms," they said.
The political parties demanded that such restrictions should be lifted immediately while adding that any unlawful restriction by the government harms democracy as envisaged under the Constitution of India
The political parties went on to state that the relief packages announced by the State and Centre governments are inadequate in terms of coverage and quantum. While the families which suffered losses in death of near and dear ones, injuries, burning of houses and business, etc. are the most deserving, there are many like drivers of trucks, buses, school vans, taxis, business owners, daily wage earners, etc., who also need relief and rehabilitation.
“There is a need for a fresh look at the requirement of relief and rehabilitation of people affected by the crisis” stated the memorandum.
Stressing that the mortal remains of two students - Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit Singh, need to be recovered and handed over to the families, the political parties also demanded that several other mortal remains of many people, killed due to the violence, who are lying in the mortuaries at RIMS, JNIMS, Churachandpur District Hospital, etc., be handed over to their respective family members.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
