Imphal, Feb. 2: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today renewed his appeal to all militant outfits in the state to step forward and hold talks with the government for lasting peace and a healthy economy.
Addressing a peace rally in Imphal West, he said investors shy away from the state due to its insurgency-related problems. Extortion, abduction and demanding ransom to release hostages have hampered work in the multipurpose irrigation and power projects in the state, he said.
The chief minister said nearly 20 militant outfits are operating in Manipur, but the figure is far less in the other states of the region.
?Development work cannot be carried out without ample security. Engineers are abducted for ransom and even killed. Under such circumstances how can the government establish industries?? he asked. ?If the militants are ready to give up arms and join the mainstream, I am ready to sacrifice my seat. It is an appeal of the government to all militant groups in the state to come overground and sit down for talks with the government for solving their problems in an amicable way.?
Ibobi Singh said insurgency in the state would not be solved with the use of force. He appealed to the militants as well as the security forces to stop killing innocent people. ?My government will not tolerate abuse of human rights by members of the security forces.?
He suggested that the security forces should honour the Supreme Court directives on issuing arrest memos.
He praised the peace rally, organised by meira paibis assisted by the army, saying it was the right time to hold such meetings because they provide a forum for the people to suggest ways and means for restoring peace.
Minister of state for social welfare Bijoy Koijam and minister of state for agriculture K. Ranjit Singh appealed to the meira paibis to play a leading role in bringing peace.
Amid all the hoopla over peace rallies, the underground Manipur People?s Liberation Front stood its ground, renewing its cry for sovereignty. The MPLF termed the rally as a ploy to divert the attention of the people from the ?freedom struggle?.