Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 20:
The monitoring group on the territorial integrity of Manipur, AMUCO, has flatly denied the statement of Union home minister LK Advani that the unfortunate incident which took place in Imphal on Monday was the handiwork of the militants, and appealed to the Prime Minister to restrain the home minister from making any provocative and irresponsible statement at this hour of crisis.
It also urged the Centre to immediately review the "unethical" extension of cease-fire to Manipur against the wishes of the people, and expressed confidence that the "democratic government of India will listen to the voice of the people and not to the sound of the gun".
AMUCO spokesman and advisor, RK Anand, in a letter to the Prime Minister assured that there was no question of instigation by any militant organization in which quite a few government buildings including state Assembly were gutted.
Indeed it was a spontaneous response of an angry people, he said.
"The people were angry because the government of India had forfeited their trust.
It was a breach of trust committed by the government of India", RK Anand said in the letter recalling that the government of India had assured the people of Manipur that nothing will be done by the government of India which in any manner would go against the spirit of unity and integrity of Manipur.
RK Anand also pointed out that while issuing a joint statement by the Prime Minister's emissary K Padmanabhaiah and Th Muivah, it was categorically stated that the land of the Nagas which allegedly extends to art area of 1.2 lakh sq km and it enraged the people.
Against this background, it was so natural that the people were so sentimental and emotional that though it was only a general strike, people spontaneously, came out from their homes and took to the streets as it was a mass rally, he added.
The AMUCO spokesman further reiterated that the organization is primarily concerned with the well-being and tranquility of the people.