Things have gone from bad to worse : Ibobi INDIA Bloc presents case to Governor

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 21: Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has said that the situation in Manipur has gone from bad to worse as representatives of the INDIA Bloc called on Governor Ajay Kumar at Lok Bhavan today and expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the State.
They also submitted a memorandum to the Governor, seeking his intervention to address the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
The INDIA Bloc team was led by former Chief Minister and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Okram Ibobi.
Speaking to the media outside the Lok Bhavan gate after the meeting, Ibobi said that the situation in Manipur can only be described as having gone from bad to worse.
He asked how long must the people of Manipur continue to endure such suffering ?
Enough is enough, he said.
Ibobi said that they had asked the Governor whether such a situation would be allowed to happen in other States.
Ibobi said that the conflict in Manipur is going in circles, referring to the cycle of violence that had shifted from clashes between Meiteis and Kukis to Nagas and Kukis, and now to the killing of Meiteis by Kuki militants again.
He said that the Governor, as the representative of the President, has a responsibility to ensure Constitutional governance is upheld in the State.
Ibobi also said that the Governor could advise the State Government and consult the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs regularly to bring an end to the vicious cycle of violence in the State.
Although law and order is a State subject, the Centre needs to intervene as the State Government has failed to restore normalcy, he added.
Stating that the BJP is in power at both the Centre and the State, Ibobi maintained that the Central Government, however, appeared to be not taking the crisis in Manipur seriously.
He also pointed out that most of the recent incidents of killings and violence had occurred in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Questioning whether the Centre could remain silent when armed groups from across the border are attacking the citizens of the country, the Congress leader reminded the Government of India that safeguarding the international border is its responsibility.
Ibobi said that the Government must take strong action against any armed groups, whether signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact or other ceasefire agreements, if they violate the terms and conditions they had agreed to abide by.
He said that they have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister through the Governor.
Ibobi said that the INDIA Bloc is ready to take up with the Central leadership any issue that the BJP-led State Government wishes to convey but is unable to raise directly.