Veteran politicians of Manipur on Thursday stated that the restoration of peace in Manipur rests in the hands of the Indian Government, expressing their desire that peace and prosperity in Manipur be delivered as a gift for the upcoming New Year in 2024.
Three veteran politicians, namely O Joy, RK Anand, and P Sharatchandra addressed the media regarding the issue at the residence of O Joy in Kakwa, Imphal West on Thursday.
On the previous day, the three veteran politicians, along with former MLA E Chand Singh, engaged with the governor, presenting a charter of points aimed at restoring normalcy in Manipur.
They held both the Central and state governments responsible for the ongoing unrest which has persisted for over seven months.
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In their media interaction, the three veteran politicians proposed that the primary approach to restoring peace in Manipur is to address the axis of violence perpetrated by illegal immigrants and militants under the SoO in the hill districts of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, and Tengnoupal.
“Restoring peace in Manipur is the duty of the government,” emphasised Joy, adding that the state government, under constitutional provisions, possesses the authority to utilise both the central forces deployed in the state and the state forces to ensure effective implementation of law and order in Manipur.
Reflecting on the tragic incident of the massacre of 13 youths in Tengnoupal district, Joy maintained that the ongoing unrest appears more akin to genocide and ethnic cleansing.
He urged the state government to provide a clear-cut report on the case, stating that it would be a step in the right direction.
Joy went on to allege that some tried to take up the prevailing issue as a step to save the “Lotus/BJP” rather than a war to save Manipur.
Addressing the issue of 10 Kuki MLAs, he expressed disappointment that the state had not taken appropriate action against them and criticised the legislators for not acting against the MLAs who, in demanding a separate administration, had breached their oath to protect the integrity of Manipur.
Supplementing these remarks, RK Anand asserted that the judicious use of military and political power by the government of India, in accordance with the Constitution, would be crucial for the restoration of peace.
