IT News
Imphal, July 7:
The Convenor of the Joint Action Committee Khwairamband (Ima Keithel Joint Coordinating Committee) today strongly criticized BJP MLAs for their comments on the speech by newly elected Inner Manipur MP, Bimol Akoijam, in Parliament. The committee urged these MLAs to stop the blame game and instead question former MPs who remained silent while the state was in turmoil, said Laishram Memma the Convenor of the JAC.
During a visit to the conflict-prone Jiribam district, the committee members shared the pain and sorrow of the local residents. The Ima Keithel mothers traveled to the area out of deep concern for their children who are facing severe hardships.
The committee called on the government to review the ongoing situation and discuss what went wrong. During their visit, the Imas were shocked to find the district hospital operating with only two ambulances and no doctors. They discovered that doctors posted at the hospital often failed to attend regularly, sometimes staying for only a few weeks before taking leave, leaving the hospital without adequate medical staff.
Members of the JAC Khwairamband Keithel also criticized the government for failing to protect and safeguard the people of Jiribam. They accused the security forces deployed in the area of being passive spectators, taking no action to protect the residents. The Imas noted that, as a result, local youths have taken up arms to defend their villages, abandoning their education in the process. They expressed their surprise that the government is now taking measures to arrest these village defenders under certain laws.
These young defenders have taken up arms with the belief that without Manipur, there is no point in pursuing their studies. The Imas questioned why the state’s 50 MLAs, whether in the opposition or ruling party, have remained silent. They called for collective action to protect the people and the state.
Despite the government’s claims that adequate security has been sent to Jiribam, reports in newspapers suggest that the promised security forces are often non-existent. The committee urged government authorities who cannot take effective action to step down and allow someone capable to take their place.