IMPHAL, August 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in his speech at the 67th Independence Day celebration held at 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground on August 15 kept the agenda of the Secular Progressive Front government and put his foot down on the issues of insurgency and the various demands for separate homelands. He mentioned that the public no longer wants violence but opts for peace and development. “The wishes of the public need to be respected by the insurgents and other concerned stakeholders. The public may be afraid of voicing their opinions openly but things have changed and the dharnas, sit -in-protests have stated that they no longer want violence but peace to prevail,” he said. Mentioning that many groups have acknowledged the stance of the public and have come forward for talks, he appealed to the valley based insurgents to table their demands through peaceful dialogue.
“The UGs or the Government is not the master, the real power is with the public and this has to be acknowledged by both, the public has had their fill of violence,” he said.
Ibobi however owned up that some SoO signatories may have misused their authority and proper action will be taken for violation of ground rules.
Ibobi added on the occasion that the government is open to constructive suggestions mentioned that legislative positions can be resigned if they fail in their duties and if the public wishes so. He stressed that Manipur is not being subjugated by any other country but has an independent status as being part of an independent nation. “But for upholding democracy, we may have to fight,”, he stamped the stance on issues of the Kuki State Demand Committee that Manipur is a small state and it is not practicable to carve out a separate homeland for a community. The ‘Alternative Arrangement’ of the Nagas also propagates similar bifurcation, “This may be possible when the Sun rises from the West,” the Chief Minister asserted.
He stated that nothing can be solved without dialogue but, “The integrity of the State will never be compromised at any cost”.
The Independence Day celebration was attended by the Governor, Chief Secretary, DGP, ministers, MLAs and other high ranking officials from various departments of the state.
March past parade by different contingents were observed and the Chief Minister gave away the police medals to the recipients.