IMPHAL: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) have jointly criticised the decision to convene the Manipur Assembly session on August 29. They contend that the ongoing situation does not provide a conducive environment for Kuki-Zo MLAs to attend the session.
In an official statement released on Sunday, both CoTU and ITLF raised their concerns about the prevailing breakdown of law and order. They cited the state government’s apparent failure to protect the lives of both citizens and officials as a key factor in their disapproval of the scheduled assembly session. The statement said that proceeding with the session under these circumstances “is devoid of logic and rationality.”
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly had earlier decided to hold a one-day session on Tuesday, a decision that has now been met with strong opposition.
CoTU and ITLF also put forward a demand that the state government take responsibility for the restoration of normalcy by resigning from their positions. They criticised the move to push forward with the assembly session despite knowing that a significant portion of the state’s population would be unable to attend. The statement conveyed that this act is not only immoral but also exposes ulterior motives within the dominant community.
Former Manipur Chief Minister and Congress leader, Okram Ibobi Singh, added his voice to the dissenting chorus. He dismissed the scheduled session as a mere “eyewash” and not in the public’s best interest. Shedding light on the proceedings, Singh revealed that the session’s agenda is limited to obituary references. He added that traditionally, days dedicated to obituary references exclude other discussions.
Singh, who is a member of the committee, expressed his concern that the proposed one-day session is insufficient to address the unprecedented state of affairs in Manipur. Suggesting that the session should last for a minimum of five days, he underscored the opposition’s intent to focus on matters of public importance rather than just critiquing the government.
