The 12th Manipur Assembly, on the second day of its fifth session on Thursday, unanimously resolved to call upon the Central government to abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pacts with all Kuki-Zo UG group militants.
The decision came after a short-duration discussion on the excesses and atrocities committed by Kuki UG groups and insurgents under the SoO agreement, which was followed by another discussion on the prevailing law and order situation in the state, raised by CLP leader O Ibobi.
Initially raised as a calling attention motion by opposition MLA K Ranjit and ruling MLA Th Shanti, the discussion on the excesses and atrocities committed by Kuki UG groups and insurgents under the SoO agreement was later converted into a broader discussion following appeals by members of the House.
The move to expand the discussion was aimed at ensuring that the SoO pacts with the Kuki insurgencies, which ended on Thursday, were not extended.
During the discussion, MLA Ranjit highlighted that the ongoing crisis, which has persisted for almost 10 months, is primarily due to the SoO agreements with the Kuki militants.
He emphasised that according to rules, any SoO or peace agreement should be abrogated if the group violates the ground rules.
Ranjit alleged that in the case of Kuki militants, they have violated almost all the ground rules by attacking and killing civilians using sophisticated weapons, engaging in extortions, poppy plantations, and other illegal activities.
He further pointed out that the SoO agreement has also been a factor prompting central forces to refrained from acting against the Kuki-Zo militants, despite their attacks on peripheral regions being carried out in plain sight.
As the Assembly is the highest platform and top decision making body, the opposition MLA demanded that the House's decision to abrogate the SoO agreement be executed today itself to save Manipur and end the ongoing crisis, echoing the sentiments of the people of Manipur.
Various members from both the ruling and opposition parties, including Minister L Susindro, MLAs Th Santi, Karam Shyam, M Rameshwor, and Kh Ibomcha from the ruling party, as well as all opposition MLAs except O Surjakumar, advocated for passing the resolution to abrogate the SoO agreement on the same day.
During the discussion, heated exchanges occurred between opposition and ruling members, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, with accusations exchanged regarding the alleged failure to control the SoO groups under the previous Congress government and the present BJP government.
Pointing finger to the then Congress government who himself was a part of it, chief minister Biren even questioned the rationale behind initiating the SoO agreement with Kuki UG groups in 2008, stating that they posed no threat to central or state forces at the time.
He mentioned that the present government had already decided to abrogate the SoO agreement with two Kuki-Zo groups, and a recent meeting of 35 legislators had also resolved to abrogate the SoO agreement with the Kuki-Zo groups. These resolutions had already been forwarded to the central government, he added.
In his capacity as the leader of the House, chief minister Biren endorsed the proposal to pass the resolution, emphasising the Assembly's pivotal role as the custodian of Manipur's destiny.
