Shiv Sena Manipur State Unit has demanded the unconditional release of the three cadres of Pambei-led UNLF while calling on the central and state governments to prioritise restoring peace in Manipur before election.
State president of Shiv Sena Manipur State Unit M Tombi told the media at the state party head office on Thursday that the party strongly condemns the arrest of the three cadres of Pambei-led UNLF as the outfit had recently signed a tripartite peace agreement.
He said that following a series of talks the outfit signed the peace agreement with both the governments at Delhi on November 29, 2023. By sidelining the previous chapter the outfit started a new chapter.
However, arresting three cadres of the outfit in connection with a previous case before signing the peace agreement is highly condemnable, said Tombi.
After signing the tripartite peace agreement, the state government even welcomed the cadres of the outfit at the historic site of Kangla, he said, and questioned why the centre arrested the three cadres.
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The government should avoid any activity that could create trust deficit to other underground outfits that might want to sign peace agreements with the government in order to bring peace in Manipur, he added.
He also stated that CM Biren should convince the centre to release the three cadres unconditionally.
Recalling an event, Tombi said that the 1984 election was suspended for a year in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam while waiting for peace to return in both the two states. Stating that elections can be conducted after bringing back peace, he said development could only come where there is peace.
He also questioned the need for conducting elections in the state when there was turmoil and peace was the real need.
He further said politicians should stop playing cheap politics by using the present conflict as a tool. Instead, they should focus on saving Manipur without their cheap politics, he added.
The elected representatives should know that their seats are not permanent and they should be cautious as their cheap politics will remain recorded in history, said Tombi.
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