Manipur Violence: CPI(M) delegation meets Governor

Imphal: Communist Party of India (M) leaders including its general secretary Sitaram Yechury, during their three-day visit to the violence-torn Manipur, met state Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan and held discussions on the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltered in various relief camps.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s secretariat, Yechury informed Uikey that the four-member CPI(M) team on Friday visited relief camps in Churachandpur and Moirang, where they found that “the arrangements made by the state government or local bodies in maintaining and running the relief camps were not satisfactory”.

“IDPs, especially children and lactating mothers, are deprived of nutritious food and babies are being born in the camps. Under such a situation, how long can the IDPs survive with hope?” he asked.

Yechury said that only a political solution can bring peace to the ongoing crisis, while also raising concern over the looting of firearms from various police stations.

"Peace must return to the troubled state. The so-called double engine has led us to this situation. Our delegation is there to express solidarity and to hear from everyone," he said.

The Governor informed the delegation that political parties, cutting across party lines, need to cooperate with the government in bringing an amicable solution to the ongoing conflict. “Violence will not bring any solution,” Uikey remarked, adding that appeals have been made to both the two communities to shun violence and come forward for talks.

The governor further stated that she has personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central leaders and urged them to find ways to bring an end to the conflict at the earliest possible time.

Ethnic clashes between Kukis and Meiteis broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 percent and reside in the hill districts.

With inputs from PTI