Manipur BJP MLA appeals to former CMs Biren Ibobi to join hands for peace

Imphal, Nov 6 (PTI) Manipur BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam on Friday appealed to former chief ministers N Biren Singh and O Ibobi Singh to join hands to restore peace in the state instead of criticising the incumbent government.

    Speaking at an event in Bishnupur district, Radheshyam said people across the state wanted peace, and all political leaders should work together to achieve it.

    "I want to appeal to former chief ministers O Ibobi Singh of the Congress and N Biren Singh of the BJP that everyone in the state wants peace. There is not a single person in the state who does not want peace," he said.

    "Peace cannot be achieved by criticising each other on social media or in the media," he said, adding that the incumbent chief minister also wanted peace.

    "Instead of criticising the government and making provocative statements, they should offer suggestions and come together to help restore peace in the state," the Heirok constituency MLA said.

    Radheshyam, who is also the state government's spokesperson, admitted that there were lapses in the handling of the ethnic violence that broke out in the state.

    "On the day the ethnic violence broke out, why was a large number of police personnel not deployed to control it? We must admit that there was a mistake and the police were not sent in time," he said.

    "Mistakes are made even by God by creating bad people. The former chief ministers have maintained that they did everything right and have criticised the current government for not doing this or that. The present government is working relentlessly. Support it," he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)