Amid the rising clashes and unrest, the regional party members wrote a letter to ex-Member of Parliament and the Congress supremo, Rahul Gandhi accusing his party of being the root cause of the violence.
The Manipur Patriotic Party’s General Secretary, Naorem Mohen blamed the Congress Party for the present crisis in the northeastern hill state. Mohen alleged that the crisis is the outcome of the continuation of the British Policy of Meitei containment by the Indian National Congress Party by encouraging illegal immigration from Myanmar and Bangladesh and converting them into a vote bank and not because of a fight between two communities.
In an open letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mohen wrote, “Rahul ji, I appreciate your concern for the present violent crisis in Manipur. However, you’ve wrongly described it as a fight between two communities. I take this opportunity to remind you that the present violent crisis in Manipur is the outcome of the continuation of the British Policy of Meitei containment by the Indian National Congress Party by encouraging illegal immigration from Myanmar and Bangladesh and converting them into a vote bank for your party, otherwise known as Congress.”
Talking about the Manipur government’s decision to withdraw from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with two militant groups, the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), for their alleged involvement in inciting agitation among forest encroachers, the letter also mentioned how Congress played a vital role in the formation of SoO with Kuki militant outfits.
“It was the same Congress Government that formalized the Suspension of Operations (SoO) with Kuki militant outfits. Informally started by the Indian Army under the instruction of the Congress Government on 1st August 2005, the SoO became an official tripartite pact on 22nd August 2008. The crux of the pact was to continue the Congress Government’s policy of annihilating valley-based insurgents by grooming the Kuki militant outfits,” reads the letter.
The letter further questioned the intent of the Congress party both in New Delhi and Imphal, to bring out any political solution to the rising instability in Manipur. The letter added due to the vote bank politics of the Congress party the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) demanded by the people of Manipur was never implemented.
On June 24, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) party for allegedly making a wake-up call 52 days after violence hit Manipur state.
In a tweet, the Ramesh wrote, “52 days after Manipur started burning the HM has finally seen it fit to call an all-party meeting on Manipur at 3 pm today. This meeting should actually have been chaired by the PM who has kept silent all this while. It should have been held in Imphal as a demonstration of national anguish. The BJP has failed the people of Manipur miserably.”
“Even so the man who brought Manipur back on the path of peace & development as CM for 3 terms between 2002 & 2017 Okram Ibobi Singhji will represent the Congress at HM’s meeting. He should be listened to in all seriousness given his vast experience and deep knowledge,” the tweet added.
Notably, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on June 25 met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur. The Chief Minister apprised the Home Minister about the ground reality and highlighted the collaborative efforts of the State and Central Governments in effectively curbing the violence over the past week.
Notably, there have been no reported casualties since June 13, indicating significant progress in restoring peace.
N Biren Singh said that the Union Home Minister has assured that the central government will take all possible steps to maintain peace in Manipur. Further, Amit Shah has also sought the cooperation of every stakeholders in Manipur to ensure that peace prevails in the State.
Taking to Twitter Manipur CM N Biren Singh said “Called on Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah Ji in New Delhi today and briefed about the evolving situation on the ground in Manipur. Under Amit Shah Ji’s close supervision, the State and Central Govt have been able to control the violence to a great extent in the past week. It may be noted that there has been no report of casualties due to the violence since the 13th of June.
Hon’ble Union HM assured that the central government will take all possible steps to maintain peace in Manipur. Further, Amit Shah Ji has also sought the cooperation of every stakeholders in Manipur to ensure that peace prevails in the State,” the Tweet further said.
