Where are the Delhi leaders, asks CPI

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 25 : Even after more than 20 days since violence erupted on May 3, the Union Home Minister has not yet visited Manipur, said veteran CPI leader and former Minister Dr Moirangthem Nara lashing out at the Central BJP leaders for ignoring the present crisis.
Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan, Imphal today, the CPI National Executive Member said that the Centre and the State Government have so far failed to contain the violence and end the crisis even after deployment of a large number of security forces.
The Government's failure to save lives and protect the properties of the people amid the present situation shows lack of good governance in the State, Dr M Nara said.
The violent communal conflict has taken many lives, burnt and damaged hundreds of houses displacing thousands of people. This conflict, Dr M Nara asserted is a result of the Government not including people in its governance.
The violent conflict was caused as the BJP's double engine growth did not push the brake and met with an accident, he said.
While the BJP's Central leaders have ignored the State by not visiting amid the crisis, the CPI which is not part of the Government has convened a meeting of the National Executive Committee on the situation, he added.
On the demand for a separate administration by 10 Kuki-Chin MLAs recently, Dr M Nara said the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Government have not yet taken any action against the MLAs and this is unfortunate.
He stressed that the State and Assembly have Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business that need to be upheld. When a Member of the Legislative Assembly breaks these rules and the conduct of business, he or she should be pulled up. However, no action has been taken against any of the MLAs, he added.
Dr M Nara continued that before the conflict erupted, the CPI-MSC, concerned with the development then, had urged the State Government to hold an all party meeting to avoid unwanted incidents. However, unfortunately, the Government ignored the appeal and held the all party meeting only after the May 3 violence struck.
Even though the all party meeting had resolved to form a Peace Committee in each and every Constituency headed by the local MLA, the committees have not yet done anything concrete to show, he said.
He continued that the relief camps, with meagre help from the Government, are being run by generous donations and assistance made by the members of the public.
Dr M Nara then stressed that the CPI, MSC is against any policy that threatens State's integrity and it will never be part of such policies.
CPI, MSC secretary Leishangthem Thoiren, who was present in the press meet, also stressed on the failure of the Centre and the State Government in containing the crisis.
Even after companies of the Central Paramilitary Force have been brought in and deployed in Manipur, the Government is unable to control and contain the crisis and avoid violence from happening.
Even as the authorities had cited lapses in intelligence as the cause of the violence on May 3, the Government machinery and the Minister of State for External Affairs, MP Dr RK Ranjan have failed in their duty he added.
L Thoiren then appealed to the Government to provide all assistance needed by the people at the relief camps, compensations and begin the process to rehabilitate them and rebuild their houses.
He also urged the Government to lift the ban on internet services and provide some relief to various businesses as well as the people.