Manipur Opposition party leader O Ibobi on Tuesday suggested the state government to approach the Central government for intervening as a neutral third party so that a dialogue may be initiated to bring a solution to end the 10-month-old violence in Manipur.
Ibobi further suggested making an immediate announcement to stop the firing on both sides and disarm them with a warning of taking stringent action against them, so that the firing can be stopped and dialogue can be initiated.
He gave the suggestions in a short duration discussion during the last day of the fifth session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
He said that enough people have been killed and enough properties were destroyed in the violence between the Meiteis and Kukis that started on May 3, 2023.
Expressing apprehension whether the Central government has been silently watching the violence until the unrest dies down on its own, the veteran Congress leader said that while the country is proudly claimed to be the fourth largest military power on earth, being unable to put an end to the violence is highly unfortunate. Longer the violence, the mindset of the people will change in different ways which are not good in either way, he said.
If the Centre really wanted to end this violence, it would take not less than three days, Ibobi said, while drawing the attention of the leader of the House, N Biren Singh, who is also in-charge of the State home department.
He also suggested that a conducive environment has to be created to start a political dialogue between the warring parties. A sense of confidence needs to be instilled among those who will participate in the dialogue, he added.
While reiterating his party’s full support to the NRC, which was unanimously passed in the Assembly last week, Ibobi also urged the Chief Minister to hire a few more agencies, not only BRO, to expedite the fencing along the border.
His party and members are always ready to support the state government if it starts anything to end this violence, he added.
In response to the suggestion, CM Biren said that an initiative of dialogue has already started. Meetings with the MLAs have been conducted two times and a third meeting will be held with the chairmen of the hill area committee.
Regarding the suggestion for disarmament, CM Biren said that there is an issue as one side took up arms due to being aggrieved while another side is the SoO militants.
He said that he had been to Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and with his knowledge, every initiative for return to normalcy in the state is being taken up.
Concerning the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Biren said that he was informed by Amit Shah that the PM entrusted him to seal with the Manipur situation.
