The Communist Party of India (CPI) has faulted the Centre, in particular the Home Ministry, for its “inept” handling of the Manipur crisis.
CPI national secretary D. Raja criticised Home Minister P. Chidambaram for failing to gauge the seriousness of the situation and taking timely measures in checking the blockade of National Highways 39 and 53, which paralysed normal life in Manipur.
“It is his [Mr. Chidambaram's] arrogant attitude that resulted in the present state of affairs in Manipur,” Mr. Raja said.
‘Wrong moves'
In a resolution, the party's national council said the present crisis was due to the “wrong moves” by the Centre. It must intervene to ensure that the blockade of National Highways by the Naga organisations was lifted.
The CPI wanted the Centre to prevent National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) leader Th. Muivah from entering Manipur as it would escalate the tensions prevailing in the State.
“Inviting Mr. Muivah for talks is a serious mistake and his visit to Manipur could fuel violence on a large scale,” the former Manipur Minister, Nara Singh, said.
‘Not transparent'
The CPI national council expressed concern that the peace negotiations between the Centre and NSCN (I-M) — which included the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the north-eastern States — were not transparent. The party added that it would oppose any moves aimed at disturbing the territorial boundaries in the region.
‘Forgotten State'
The CPI wondered why the Centre did not deploy the national highway protection force and other units to lift the blockade.
“The Centre, which deployed its troops within hours of the blockade in Jammu and Kashmir, did not act on the blockade in the north-east. Manipur has now become a forgotten State and this is intolerable,” Mr. Singh said.
The former Minister said the blockade had resulted in steep escalation of prices of essential commodities, petrol and gas, and paucity of life-saving drugs.
In addition, Mr. Singh said, the Naga rebels were collecting huge amounts of money “right in front of police stations” to allow the movement of buses and trucks, but no action was being taken against them.
