Nagaland Congress demands President’s Rule in Manipur

Dimapur: Stating that there is nothing more serious than losing 54 precious lives, injuring over 150 with many missing and property worth thousands of crores destroyed, Nagaland Congress on Sunday felt that President’s Rule is the only choice to bring back normalcy in Manipur.

A press release issued by former president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), K Therie, alleged that 26 villages were burnt down, shops and properties destroyed and looted and people displaced with many under illegal detention. He lamented that the centuries-old relation of living as one loving family has been destroyed.

“Destroying churches is most unbecoming, particularly in the context of the Northeast. We have lived happily for centuries by appreciating each other’s religions, cultures and customs. The wound is too deep and healing will take decades if not a century,” Therie said.

While appreciating the centre’s intervention, Therie however stated return to normalcy cannot be expected with the culprit remaining at the helm of affairs.

Therie stated that the chief minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, as leader of the House, should own moral responsibility for the breakdown. He added that Biren Singh is answerable and cannot blame exparte-judgement stating that it cannot happen without his consent or knowledge.

Claiming the people have lost confidence that they are safe under his leadership, Therie felt that the only option of the central government is to urgently arrest the unrest and restore normalcy with President’s Rule and win back the confidence of the people.

“We are small communities living in the Northeast with a common truth that we cannot separate. We are no longer individual communities in isolation because of intermarriage. We are neighbours and will be neighbours forever more,” Therie added.

He further expressed pain at the losses and stated that it is a painful lesson.

Don’t leave single citizen behind

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MLA from 13 Pughoboto AC, Dr. Shukato A Sema, while appreciation the state government under the leadership of the chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, and the deputy chief minister in-charge of Home, Y Patton, for arranging transportation and security cover for the Nagaland students stranded in ethnic violence hit Manipur state, appealed to the concerned authority to not leave behind a single citizen lest they become a victim of ethnic violence for no reason.

He stated that evacuation process should not be limited to Imphal alone but should be carried out in other parts of Manipur as well saying Nagaland people have history of doing business activities, teaching and missionary works even in the remote and far-flung part of Manipur like Moreh in the Myanmar border.

Dr. Sema also to appeal to the warring parties to maintain maximum restrain saying, “there is no way to peace, but peace is the way.”

Meanwhile, he informed any person from 13 Pughoboto AC who are stranded in Manipur and in need of assistance in any form to contact Ngukato K Tsuipu on phone no. 7005444691, Kuhoji Kiba on hone no. 9436005254 and Hotoka Swu on phone no. 9598806240.