New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (CPI) MP in the Rajya Sabha Binoy Viswam on Friday appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders in Manipur and convene an all-party meeting to reach an amicable solution. “I urge your ministry to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders and convene an all-party meeting to reach an amicable solution. "My party, the CPI, is already engaged in peacebuilding in the state and offers cooperation in such activities. I also demand rehabilitation of the displaced and generous compensation for those affected by violence in the state. I hope your ministry will consider these proposals and act with urgency,” Viswam said.
Expressing concern over the prevailing situation, Viswam said that such alarming incidents of violence that took place in a strategically significant state like Manipur is the testimony of the failure of the Union and State governments in understanding and tackling long-standing schisms of Manipuri society.
“I write this letter to raise serious concerns about the prevailing conditions in the state of Manipur where an orgy of violence has endangered public life in the entire state. The dangerous spiral of violence, especially around the capital city of Imphal and Chandrachudpur has shaken the state and has brought to fore the fault lines that need urgent redressal,” he said.
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Viswam claimed that the response by the Union Home Ministry was delayed and insufficient. “Violence in this case is a manifestation of deep-rooted political frustration and demands a political solution. Instead, the Union Home Ministry and the State government are treating it with a narrow view by taking these incidents as solely law and order issues. It needs to be reiterated here that apart from challenging the law-and-order apparatus, the conflict is also challenging the stability of Manipuri society by exposing fault lines. It is political in nature, hence, the solution should also be political if it is to be enduring,” he said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Shah on Friday cancelled all his programmes in Karnataka in the wake of the ongoing violence in Manipur. The Home Minister was also supposed to visit violence-hit Manipur, but due to the present situation in the State, he has postponed his visit. The Minister is now personally monitoring the situation from Delhi, sources said. Shah, according to the sources, is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur and holds meetings with authorities in the state.
“Apart from talking with the Chief Minister and other senior officials of Manipur, the Home Minister is also taking minute-by-minute development in the State from top intelligence officials,” sources said. The Home Ministry on Friday dispatched four Rapid Action Force (RAF) and two Border Security Force (BSF) companies for Manipur.
With this, the total number of RAF companies deployed in the violence-torn State is 10 whereas the total number of BSG deployed in the State increased to eight. Fifteen companies of CRPF have already been deputed in Manipur. Authorities of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh started taking all required steps to ensure the safety of their people residing in Manipur, a day after Shah advised them to do the same. “During his meeting on Thursday, the Home Minister has appealed to all the States neighbouring Manipur to extend all possible support in maintaining peace in the region,” sources said.
