IT News
Imphal, Feb 4:
The appointment of a security advisor in Manipur is clear evidence of the imposition of Article 355, stated BJP Manipur spokesperson M. Suresh while addressing the media today. He launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, criticizing his remarks in Parliament regarding the ongoing crisis in the state.
Reacting to Bimol’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the root cause of the conflict, Suresh termed it “unfortunate” and claimed it reflected the MP’s lack of understanding of the situation. “Bimol said some militants in the valley were nurtured by political leaders. What does he mean by that? His speech implies he is an enemy of the village volunteers. If his statement leads to the reimposition of AFSPA, Bimol should be held responsible,” Suresh asserted.
The BJP spokesperson alleged that Congress was seeking political mileage by siding with the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs and accused the party of hypocrisy. “Bimol blames the Chief Minister for inaction, but he should know that under Article 355, law and order in Manipur is under the control of the Centre,” he added.
MP Akoijam Bimol had, on Monday, raised concerns over the government’s negligence in handling the Manipur crisis and criticized the absence of the issue in the Presidential address. He also questioned the relevance of celebrating 75 years of the Indian Constitution when its provisions were not being fully implemented for the people.
Meanwhile, BJP Manipur Pradesh General Secretary K. Sarat blamed the Congress for the current turmoil in Manipur, citing its past involvement in the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with militant groups. “We need to understand the root cause of the conflict and the hardships people are facing. Why did the Opposition allow outsiders to establish militant camps across the Imphal Valley under the SoO agreement? The Congress is responsible for this. Can we (BJP) immediately undo what was started in 2008?” he questioned.
Sarat also criticized Congress for repeatedly accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Manipur while failing to acknowledge that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had not condemned the Jiribam killings. “When Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur for three days, Congress leaders were invited for discussions, but none of them showed up. Simply speaking on the streets and in localities will not bring a solution,” he concluded.
The political blame game over the Manipur crisis continues, with both parties accusing each other of inaction and political opportunism.