Manipur BJP legislator urges Centre to withdraw central security forces from state
Guwahati: Manipur BJP legislator Rajkumar Imo Singh has urged the Central government to withdraw the central forces from the strife-torn state if their presence could not bring the ongoing violence to a halt.
In a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the MLA from Sagolband constituency said the central security forces failed to control the situation, the state forces should be permitted to take control in restoring peace in the violence-hit state.
He asserted the presence of nearly 60,000 central security forces in the state has not yielded any results in restoring peace.
“The presence of around 60,000 central forces in Manipur is not yielding peace, thus it’s better to remove such forces which are mostly present as mute spectators,” Singh said in the letter.
Singh acknowledged the recent move to withdraw some units of the Assam Rifles for the paramilitary force’s dearth of cooperation with the Manipur government and the local people.
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“We are pleased with the action to remove certain units of Assam Rifles who were not cooperating with the state government and the public, but if the presence of these and other central forces cannot halt violence, it is better to remove them and allow the state forces to take charge and bring peace,” Singh added.
Singh put forth the Unified Command authority to be transferred to the Manipur government under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
While denouncing the present security arrangements of being unsuccessful in controlling the unceasing violence, he said the transfer of the Unified Command authority to the state government is crucial at this juncture.
“The Central government has to hand over the Unified Command to the state government headed by Chief Minister and allow it to act as per the procedures prescribed by law to bring peace and normalcy in the state,” he said.
Singh urged the Central government to take stringent measures against the militant and insurgent groups that have breached the ground rules of the Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreement.
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Singh, urging the Union Home Minister to revoke the SOO agreements with the insurgent groups, claimed these are fueling the violence further.
Singh also urged for an investigation into the funding and supply of arms and ammunition which he said is aggravating the conflict.
He further urged the Central government to initiate a political dialogue and engagement between all stakeholders for a permanent and peaceful resolution.