IMPHAL: The Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram's opposition party, has called for the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, citing his alleged failure to address the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, MNF General Secretary V. L. Krosehnehzova criticized Singh's leadership, accusing him of exacerbating the crisis and prolonging the suffering of innocent people.
The unrest, which has been ongoing since May last year, has reportedly resulted in over 250 fatalities. Krosehnehzova urged the Central Government to act decisively on the issue. "We demand Chief Minister Biren Singh must step down immediately. Also, the Central Government needs to take urgent decisive actions to end this crisis once and for all so that the democratic rights and dignity of the people of Manipur are retrieved," he said.
According to Krosehnehzova, Singh's inaction and misuse of authority have deepened the crisis, rendering his position as Chief Minister "untenable and shameful." He mentioned the plights of ethnic Zo people, commonly referred to as Mizos (Zofate), that the bloodshed had already killed 219 community members and displaced 41,425 people. Many of the displaced found refuge in other states: Mizoram, among them.
The leader of the MNF also said the widespread destruction caused by violence is a testimony to the fact that not only churches but villages too have been lost. "Such atrocities demand not just leadership but an unrelenting pursuit of justice and restoration. In a nation celebrated as the world's largest democracy, the continued erosion of human rights and attacks on religious sanctuaries betray the foundational values of justice and secularism," he stated.
Krosehnehzova appealed to all ethnic Zo tribes to come together to protect their communities' lives and livelihoods. He also appealed to the Mizoram government and its citizens to continue their humanitarian efforts, providing aid to those displaced by the violence in Manipur and to refugees from neighboring Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The MNF statement reflects the urgency of action to end the crisis and restore peace while underlining that the current situation is a gross violation of democratic and human rights principles.
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