Okram Ibobi refutes over inking of SoO with Kuki militants

Imphal: CLP leader and former Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi has refuted allegations that the prevailing Manipur turmoil is due to the inking of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants by the then Congress-led government.

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Addressing media at Congress Bhavan, BT road in Imphal Wednesday afternoon, Okram Ibobi said the Congress party, which believes in non-violence, signed the agreement in its efforts to bring back armed militants to the mainstream.

He expressed disappointment that the same effort has been portrayed in a negative light by some to get political mileage.

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Okram Ibobi asked why the BJP-led government which came to power in 2014 failed to abrogate the Suspension of Operation agreement with Kuki militants till date if the agreement was against the welfare of the state.

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CLP leader Okram Ibobi maintained that all other political parties would agree that the Congress government’s move was necessary to ensure ground rules for the militants. He stressed that it is the responsibility of the ruling government to ensure that SoO ground rules are abided at all times.

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