Manipur CM meets INDIA bloc leaders amid killings, opposition leaders question govt’s moral authority

Imphal, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday met leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc, including former Chief Minister and State Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh, and reviewed the prevailing law and order situation following the killing of three civilians by suspected militants in Kangpokpi district, officials said.

The delegation expressed deep concern over the killing of the three civilians and urged the Chief Minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the deteriorating security situation and explore ways to restore peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state.

In a social media post, Khemchand Singh said the meeting reviewed the overall security situation following the "tragic killing of three innocent civilians by armed miscreants".

The Chief Minister added that he had heard the concerns expressed by the political representatives and assured them that the matter would be looked into.

He said that the meeting also held constructive discussions on maintaining peace and making collective efforts to restore normalcy in the state.

Speaking to media after the meeting, veteran Congress leader Ibobi Singh questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's moral authority to remain in office amid recurring violence and civilian killings.

"The INDIA bloc representatives met the Chief Minister to discuss the prevailing law and order situation, which has deteriorated rapidly," he said.

He alleged that people belonging to different communities had been killed in recurring incidents of violence and claimed that the law and order machinery had completely failed in the state.

Questioning the government's ability to protect civilians, Ibobi Singh said ensuring the safety of people was its fundamental responsibility.

"How long can we tolerate this? Day by day, people are killing each other," he said, referring to the continuing violence involving members of the Naga, Kuki and Meitei communities.

The former Chief Minister also questioned the failure to convene an all-party meeting despite repeated demands, saying the Congress and other INDIA bloc constituents could not remain silent over the state government's handling of the crisis.

Ibobi Singh said the Opposition bloc was prepared to urge the Centre to assist the state government if the situation was beyond its capacity to control.

He added that if the Centre was committed to ending the crisis, controlling violence and preventing armed groups from moving freely should not take more than a few days.

He also accused the Centre of remaining a silent spectator amid the continuing bloodshed.

The three firewood collectors were killed by suspected militants at Khongban Sunurok in the Kangpokpi district, near Nongshum in Imphal East district, on Monday.

Several others were also reported injured in the incident.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Babupara here, was attended by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, MLA Okram Surjakumar and leaders of various political parties belonging to the Opposition bloc.

CLP leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh later said that the INDIA bloc delegation also raised serious concerns regarding the role and functioning of the Assam Rifles in Manipur, and urged the state government to address the concerns of the people regarding security and the protection of civilian lives.

"The delegation expressed deep concern over the recurring loss of innocent lives and urged the state government to take immediate, decisive and effective measures to stop the violence, protect civilians, ensure accountability, and restore peace and normalcy in the state," Singh added.

The INDIA bloc delegation included representatives of the CPI-M, CPI, RSP, All India Forward Bloc, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, among others.

Source: IANS