Manipur Communist Party of India former secretary L Sotinkumar has asserted that the chief minister has lost control of the whole governance and an efficient and capable leadership was vital to resolving the mayhem in the state.
“The chief minister is only on top in name without any power; how can he do anything to resolve the crisis,” he said.
He was speaking at the National Solidarity Day on Peace in Manipur programme jointly organised by the AIFB, CPI, CPI (M) and RSP on Monday at Irawat Bhawan, Imphal.
Sotinkumar highlighted that the state needed a zealous leader who could pull the state out of this slump instead of the present chief minister.
“The present chief minister is the same as a sitting duck with no legitimate authority; he is neither the head of the peace committee nor the unified command as such he could only inspect and not even order security forces at Khoijumantabi to take repercussive measures against militants in future attacks,” he said.
He pointed out that the state government did not have the authority to squeeze out the suspected Kuki militants from sensitive zones.
“The absence of legitimate authority raises the pertinent question if Article 355 had been invoked in the state; the double engine government has failed to deliver double power measures to resolve the issue,” he said.
He further lambasted the prime minister for his silence on the two-month-long violence which had unfolded in Manipur. What is the prime minister’s agenda for doing so, he questioned.
All Manipur Nupi Marup president M Shakhi, CPI-M state secretary Kshetrimayum Shanta, RSP state secretary Manoranjan and CPI state secretary L Thoiren among others were present at the programme.
