MPCC hails SC ruling
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2020: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has hailed the ruling of the Supreme Court which says that the prolonged shutdown of internet in Jammu and Kashmir was a violation of fundamental rights.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, MPCC vice president T Mangibabu welcomed the apex Court's ruling that access to internet is a fundamental right of all citizens.

He remarked that the mode of governance of both the Central Government and the State Government is rather frightening.

MPCC hails SC ruling

Pointing out that restrictions were imposed under Section 144 of CrPC in the entire Imphal West district for two months in anticipation of mass rallies against CAA and the Naga solution, Mangibabu asked whether this restriction complement the Supreme Court's ruling.

Asking if there was any large scale violence in the course of the mass protest rallies staged in the State, the MPCC vice president asserted that all the protest rallies were by and large non-violent and the protesters were exercising their democratic right to express what they think about key issues of the State.

Congress party condemns all attempts of the Government to suppress the freedom of speech and expression entitled to all citizens of the country, he said.

People would certainly welcome any initiative of the Government which is meant for their welfare.

But imposing restrictions under CrPC Section 144 for fear of people's protest and backlash is a matter of grave concern, Mangibabu remarked.

Accusing the Govt of trying to finish off democracy in the country by following a dictatorial mode of governance, he said that the Supreme Court's ruling towards rescuing democracy was highly commendable.

He went on to assert that the discriminatory and unconstitutional Government has become an enemy of the masses.

If CAA was enacted in the interest of the country, all the people would have welcomed it.

However, imposition of restrictions under CrPC Section 144 in the entire Imphal West district for two months to prevent protest rallies against CAA and the Naga solution cannot be vindicated.

On the contrary, such restriction is anti-people, Mangibabu said.

Protest rallies and demonstrations are all driven by good causes and there is no violence in such protest demonstrations.

The way CPI State Secretary L Sotinkumar is detained for supporting a general strike against CAA is something not permissible in a democratic country.

Every citizen has the right to analyse and criticise the activities and policies of the Government.

If the Government is determined to arrest and detain every critic, then the Government is not a democratic Government but dictatorship, Mangibabu added.