Manipur: COCOMI to hold torch rally against Dwivedi remarks

Manipur: The Integrity Coordination Committee (COCOMI) on Thursday condemned Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s remarks on the ongoing violence in Manipur. COCOMI urged the people of Manipur to take out a Mira (torch) rally at 8 pm on Friday to protest the Army Chief’s remarks. Speaking to the media, COCOMI coordinator Thokchom Somorendro alleged that the Indian government has been plotting various types of war strategies on Manipur since the state’s merger with India in 1949. He recalled Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi’s statement in a TV interview that no armed militants from Myanmar entered Manipur. In this regard, he pointed out the existing inconsistencies in the statements made by political leaders on the Manipur issue. He recalled Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in which he said that the conflict in Manipur is due to illegal immigrants.

Somorendro said Amit Shah again said that the issue is a communal conflict. He pointed out different versions of the issue and said that it is a communal conflict. He said that like a politician, the Army Chief is also making random statements on Manipur. Somorendro accused the Home Minister and Defence Minister of conspiring to wage a war within the state and said that the same conspiracy is being carried out by the Security Advisor and DGP of Manipur. He gave the example of intelligence related to the entry of 900 armed militants in Manipur. He said that at first the Security Advisor himself confirmed the alert, after which a notice was circulated. Somorendro claimed that after a few days both the Security Advisor and the DGP announced that the report of entry of 900 armed militants in Manipur is unreliable. He lamented that the Manipur State Government has been rendered powerless and made a shield. He said, “If something goes wrong, the blame is put on the state government.” On the drone bombing case, the army chief said there have been no drone bombings or infiltration of armed foreign militants in Manipur. Somorendro said his remarks were extremely unfortunate. “We went to the United Nations demanding justice, but the army chief said we should not go there,” Somorendro said. He said it was extremely unfortunate. “We are scared now. We don’t know if the Indian government is planning to divide Manipur into different parts. Why is the security adviser silent? Is he involved in any conspiracy?” Somorendro asked. He alleged that the central government was trying to divide Manipur into different parts and was using militants to wage war in Manipur. He said the people of the state were confused about how the Indian government was looking at the violence in Manipur.Manipur: COCOMI to hold torch rally against Dwivedi remarks