Asem Bhakta Singh, Reporter North East
Imphal: As restive Manipur witnesses no respite in the unceasing ethnic strife, the opposition Congress has heaped pressures on all 3 MPs from the state to raise the issue in the ongoing Parliament session to ensure peace is restored in the state.
A delegation of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), to this end, has submitted memoranda to the trio – Inner Manipur MP and Union MoS for education and external affairs, RK Ranjan, Outer Manipur MP Lorho S Pfoze and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba.
Headed by MPCC vice president Hareshwar Goshwami , the Congress team on Monday called on MP Sanajaoba at his New Delhi official residence and submitted the memorandum to him. On Saturday, they called on Pfoze and Ranjan.
While Ranjan and Sanajaoba are BJP MPs, Pfoze belongs to the Naga People’s Front (NPF), the coalition partner of the N Biren Singh government in the state.
The memo categorically requested the MPs to take up the current boiling issues of Manipur for a proper decision during the ongoing Parliament session with special attention on immediate rehabilitation and restoration of all persons displaced by the strife with adequate security and urgent payment of suitable compensation.
It called for taking up immediate measures for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.
Highlighting a brief genesis of the strife, the memo said “as we are all aware, there was a sudden eruption of violence on May 3, 2023, that started in Kangvai in Churachandpur district after a Tribal Solidarity March organized by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM).”
Since then, Manipur has been scorching non-stop and more than 60,000 people are displaced and taking refuge in relief camps, around 200 people were either killed or missing and a number of dead bodies are still lying in various mortuaries in the state, the memo said.
Around 6000 weapons with several rounds of ammunition were looted or snatched from police posts and battalions, it added.
“Even after seven long, torturous, painful months, there is no sign of restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur. Due to these happenings, Manipur is lagging behind in every aspect of development, and the grief and miseries of the people are manifold,” lamented the memo.
MP Sanajaoba, during Monday’s meeting, informed the Congress delegation that he also wanted all the points mentioned in the memorandum and that he would raise them in the parliament session.
On Saturday, Union MoS Ranjan informed the opposition team that he, being a minister, could not put up any matter in the Parliament. But, he is ready to help to bring solution to the crisis besetting Manipur, while Pfoze too said he is ready to bring out a solution to solve the crisis.
The Congress delegation could not meet MP Sanajaoba on that day as he was not available at his official residence.
