Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 04 01 2010:
The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has blamed the State Government for keeping off an amicable solution to the post July 23 deadlock.
According to a press release issued by the Apunba Lup, it had held four rounds of negotiation with the Government, the latest being on January 1 .
During the third round of talk, the Apunba Lup, after softening its stand to some extent, submitted a 13 point charter of demands to the Government.
In response, the Government gave assurance to fulfil 11 demands excepting the demand for resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi or removal of Home portfolio and the two demands pertaining to the DGP.
Following the refusal of the Government to fulfil the demands pertaining to the Chief Minister and the DGP, the impasse continued unable to find a solution, the Apunba Lup conveyed.
However, the Apunba Lup compromised its position furthermore considering the difficulties being encountered by students, guardians, private school teachers, governing bodies and the general public because of the civil protest movement launched in the aftermath of the July 23 killings.
Cutting down its demands to eleven against which the Government gave its assurance of putting them into action, the Apunba Lup sat on the negotiating table for the fourth time on January 1 with the hope that a solution could be clinched.
The Government was represented by Minister Ranjit, Minister Jayenta and MLA Dr Loken at the fourth round of talk.
But the Government suddenly made a turnaround and withdrew its assurance on the ground that the CBI would be investigating into the Khwairamband incident of July 23 .
The Government put it that they could not fulfil the 11 demands which included suspension of Additional SP, expansion of Agarwal Enquiry Commission, booking the suspended commandos etc.
The State Government excused themselves saying that it would be sub-judice to put these demands into action as the CBI is investigation into the incident.
But on consultation with legal experts, the Apunba Lup has been told that there is no question of being sub-judice when the Government takes up necessary action to fulfil its own assurance.
The Government may fulfil its assurance at the same time when the CBI investigation is going on, the Apunba Lup asserted quoting legal experts.
This opinion of legal experts has been forwarded to the Government through Senior Citizens, it conveyed.
The Apunba Lup exuded that the Government, the Apunba Lup, the two JACs and the student bodies can strike an agreement if the Government resolves to fulfil the 11 demands it assured earlier.
Pointing out that it cut down its demands only to those points against which the Government gave its assurance, the Apunba Lup declared that there is no other option than continue with the persisting protest movement in case the Govt sticks to its decision of keeping the 11 demands in abeyance in the name of CBI investigation.
It further called upon the people to study the positions adopted by the State Govt since the very beginning of the civil protest movement and to join the protest movement it launched.