After Manipur video, NE CMs, leaders speak up: ‘Whole region needs a solution… only Centre can provide it’

He added: “The whole region needs a permanent solution for the great problem Manipur is having, which can really be solved only by the Central Govt. I re-quote — ‘Many lives have been lost, bloodshed all over, physical torture & the victims are looking for refuge wherever possible’. With no iota of doubt, those victims are my kith and kin, my own blood and should we quieten the situation by just being silent? I don’t think so!” SILENCE is not an OPTION!”

The women seen being paraded naked and groped in the video belong to the Kuki-Zomi tribe, who bear ethnic ties to the Mizos.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, whose National People’s Party (NPP) is also a part of the NDA, said he was “extremely disturbed by the recent incident in Manipur”. “Stripping any human of their dignity is the most demeaning and inhumane act. I strongly condemn such actions. Guilty should be given the harshest punishment,” he said.

Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic People’s Party, yet another NDA partner, urged Biren Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah to “act without delay and take concrete steps to restore the trust of the people”. “The incident in Manipur is barbaric and shameful. I condemn the despicable act in the strongest terms possible. Tyranny of the mob has no place in a civilized society. We are deeply pained by the series of incidents that have been happening in Manipur,” he said.

Outer Manipur MP R Lorho Pfoze, who is from the BJP’s Manipur alliance partner National People’s Front, said, “The state machinery has failed and he (Biren Singh) should take responsibility. He should morally resign or he should be sacked.”

In a video message, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Debbarma said, “I feel sick to my stomach. I feel disgusted. All my life, when our women were attacked in mainland India or abused, we have stood up. We have always told the rest of India that it’s not like this in the North East. But for the first time in my life, I feel ashamed that this has happened in our backyard”.

Referring to Biren Singh’s statement, Pradyot said: “The CM has said he was shocked after seeing the video. Come on, he is the Home Minister!… I’m sure the officials knew about it. He knew about it.”

Pradyot added that the speculation of the police taking sides during the Manipur conflict was proven “not untrue” by the video.

Addressing a press conference, Assam Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur said: “The incident came to light 74 days later and the state government instead of arresting all the accused is still trying to cover it up. The Manipur government has no moral right to be in power… (Himanta Biswa) Sarma, who is the North East Democratic Alliance convenor, has no answer as to why the Manipur violence has not been brought under control,” she said.

With ENS inputs from Agartala