CPI National meet discusses State issues
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 19 2013:
Two important issues confronting Manipur--Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and drug trafficking-- were deliberated extensively and took resolution on them during the 3-day CPI National Council Meeting held at Ajay Bhavan in New Delhi.
The meeting held from March 15-17 was attended by all the leaders of state and union territory CPI units and the issues of AFSPA and the drug trafficking case that involves Col Ajay Chowdhry, PRO Defence Wing of Army posted at Imphal were included in the political resolutions taken by the National Council's meeting, DR M Nara, secretary, Manipur State CPI told reporters at Irawat Bhawan here on Tuesday.
According to the political resolution on Manipur, it was noted that the imposition of AFSPA both in the hill and valley areas of Manipur has not been able to contain insurgency, Dr Nara conveyed.
The CPI National Council Resolution on Manipur maintained that on the contrary, the number of insurgency groups has increased from hardly five in 1980 to more than 35 till today and that around 5000 people have been killed and many were severely tortured by the security forces, he said.
The CPI National Council demands immediate withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur and initiate political dialogue with insurgents for durable political solution, according to the resolution.
Under the coverage of this Act some elements of the security forces have entered into narcotic drug business worth crores of rupees, the meeting alleged, citing the recent arrest of Col Chowdhry with huge quantity of narcotic drugs worth Rs 25 crore as a clear proof of their (security forces) involvement in this trade.
This drug menace in the state of Manipur is ever increasing leading to make the Manipur one of the front running states of the country with regard to occurrence of HIV/AIDS cases and hundreds and thousands of young people have become victims of this menace, the meeting observed.
The National Council of CPI also noted that the civil society and the people, particularly the womenfolk of Manipur are all set for a war on drugs.
Thousands of women are on the streets everyday in many parts of the state demanding arrest and disclosure of the real owners of this business.
The National Council sincerely supports the agitators and it hopes further continuation of the campaign and harder struggle against this social menace, the meeting decided and announced that the CPI along with like-minded parties will take up this issue seriously at the national level and also in the Parliament, Dr Nara further conveyed.