Former Chief Minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam today calls on the intelligentsia of the state to come forward and play their role in the forming of good governance which will bring peace and harmony in the state during the inaugural function of the two day Political dialogue on Present Political Scenario in Manipur organized by National Research centre, Manipur at Kuki Inn Hall Imphal.
Elaborating the present ethno-political turmoil in the state, the former Chief Minister said that every community is right from their own perspectives as the root of all the present crisis sails out from their strong aspiration to get recognition of their respective communities.
“ But each leaders of each community should control their tongue while expressing their point of view as it stands true that there are still differences among the various communities of the state”, Radhabinod said referring to the present crisis in the state in the backdrop of the passing of the three ILPS related Bills.
The three Bills passed from the pressure of the valley based civil society organization is strongly opposed by the almost all tribal civil society organizations of the state particularly those based at Churachandpur and Senapati District.
The former Chief Minister further said that there are still differences among each community where many unsettled problem still remains. He said the Kuki still observed Black days and it is a clear signed of having unresolved problems between communities of the state. The tribal still remembered those days when the majority Meitei reportedly ill-treated them and the Meitei still lives in the past, Radhabinod added.
“If we live in the history we cannot move ahead, what we need today is a good governance robust communal harmony”, the former chief Minister added.
Saying said so the former Chief Minister however said that the people need to know the history and have adequate understanding of today’s affairs and should have a vision for the future.
Radhabinod Koijam also reminded the people of the state particularly those in the Hills about the needs for a stringent land law for the Hills areas. He however said that the kind of land law he referred to is not about implementation of the existing MLR& LR act but about the formation of another suitable law.
“Non existence of any requisite land laws in Hill areas has hampered the development of the tribal people as individuals in the Hills cannot owned a land in their own name”, Radhabinod reminded highlighting example of how people in the Hills are often deprived of their rights of taking loans and other beneficiary as they cannot provide a legitimate documents to show that the land they are staying are their properties.
Radhabinod also indirectly appealed the government about the need for organizing exclusive meet with all the chieftains and civil society leaders of tribal people of the state.
“When I was the chief Minister I convened meeting with the leaders of the tribal communities and other civil society leaders under the initiative of the tribal welfare Minister. This Helps a lot”, Radhabinod said.
The Inaugural session of the two day public dialogue was also attended by Prof. Y Mohendro, Prof. L Sadananda and Haobam Sanajaoba as dignitaries on the dais.
In the afternoon session, resource persons from various fields brain storms on the present political scenario of the state. Prof. Sadananda moderated the session. The public dialogue will continue tomorrow too.
