IT News
Imphal, Feb 22:
Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur State Council has strongly condemned the inaction of both the central and state governments regarding the ongoing violence in Manipur. The party raised questions about the feasibility of holding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
L Thoiren, the CPI Manipur state council secretary, expressed “dissatisfaction with the inaction against the MLAs advocating for a separate administration.” He called for a discussion on this issue involving the ten MLAs in the upcoming state assembly.
Thoiren criticized the initiative taken by the central government, deeming it unsatisfactory. He accused the central administration of operating with a determined agenda to capture power, using undemocratic and majoritarian Hindutva attitudes, which often involved the central government deploying enforcement directorates and income tax departments to harass the opposition.
According to Thoiren, the central government operates with an attitude of doing things on its own terms and the state government is also following the same path. He pointed it is evident from the preparation of the ongoing state assembly that there is the lack of transparency in the agenda as it does not specify what will be discussed in the assembly. He also criticized Chief Minister Biren saying that “there is a clear lack of concern or direction in addressing the issues at hand from the side of the CM.”
In the press conference, CPI leader L Sotinkumar, further, points out that “the central government’s handling of the ongoing violence is nothing but despicable.” He expressed concern over incidents such as the pulling down of the tricolor and the arson of public property, including the offices of the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) while the central forces remained mute spectators.
Sotinkumar highlighted that there is a demand among the public for a discussion in the state assembly on the topics of a separate administration and the expulsion of Kuki-Zo MLAs from the legislative assembly. However, he accused the BJP center of involving these MLAs in discussions related to the upcoming elections before the assembly session. He asserted that such actions by the central government are detrimental to the larger interests of the people of Manipur and criticized the center for protecting MLAs who are perceived as against the integrity of Manipur.
Drawing attention to the entry of paramilitary forces at Cheirap Count and their alleged attack on the public, Sotinkumar condemned the incident and called for action against those involved. He said that the law and order situation has completely failed in the state and questioned the feasibility of holding Lok Sabha elections amid the ongoing conflict.
