New Delhi: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Monday slammed both Manipur and the central governments for failing to ensure “safety and normalcy” in the Northeast state.
Earlier in the day, the Sangh’s Manipur unit, too, came out with a statement urging both the central and state governments to take immediate action to resolve the ongoing crisis.
“The ongoing violence in Manipur since May 3rd, 2023, has plummeted to unprecedented depths with the heinous abduction and murder of six innocent civilians, including three women and three children, among them a seven-month-old infant. This act defies even the most basic humanitarian principles, where women and children are traditionally spared. ABVP Manipur vehemently condemns the brutal killings of the six abducted individuals,the burning of houses by armed militants, attacks on police and CRPF personnel in Ziribam,” the ABVP said in a statement Monday.
Terming the destruction of properties belonging to democratically elected leaders by “enraged mobs” as “deeply disturbing”, the ABVP said that timely intervention could have saved the six lives lost.
“The concerned authorities have failed in their duties, and both state and central governments have failed to ensure the safety and normalcy in Manipur,” it said.
Violence and protests have escalated in Manipur, following recovery of bodies near Jiribam. Some of the bodies are believed to be of the women and children from a family of six, who were taken away by suspected armed men from a relief camp in Jiribam on 11 November. The death toll has reached 20 in Manipur, with casualties on both sides of the Kuki-Meitei conflict.
The ABVP has demanded ‘immediate action’ to restore peace and order in Manipur.
“We demand immediate action to restore peace and order, protection for innocent civilians, accountability for the failed response. We also appeal to the public: in these challenging times, we urge patience and peace. Let us stand together against violence and work towards a harmonious Manipur. ABVP Manipur stands in solidarity with the affected families and demands swift action to prevent further unrest,” it added.
Earlier in the day, the RSS strongly condemned “the inhuman, brutal and merciless acts of killing women and children” in Manipur, after keeping them in captivity for days. It also asked the central and the state governments to “sincerely” resolve the ongoing conflict at the earliest.
In a statement issued by its Manipur unit, the RSS said that “it is unfortunate that 19 months old violence in Manipur starting from May 3, 2023 has remained unresolved”.
“Due to the ongoing violence, innocent people have immensely suffered. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Manipur strongly condemns inhuman, brutal and merciless acts of killing women and children after taking them in captivity. The act is cowardly and is against the principles of humanity and co-existence. The central and state government should ‘sincerely’ resolve the ongoing conflict at the earliest,” it added.
Seven MLAs of the National People’s Party (NPP) have withdrawn support to the N. Biren Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Manipur citing the volatile situation in the state and the failure of the government machinery to resolve the crisis.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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Modi govt should end this at any cost either by force. It is just eroding image of BJP in northeast. How can they don’t handle a small state??
ABVP and RSS are part of the government.
Modus operandi: First incite division in society. Let the state burn for a year and then act as if we have nothing do with it when desired results are not coming.