Imphal, September 06: Apunba Lup has strongly condemned the remark of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil who contended that the death toll and casualties in Manipur is far lesser in comparison to other terrorist infested places like Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, Russia, etc.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, spokesman of the Lup L Umakanta said that the remark of the Union Home Minister was irresponsible and is akin to encouraging more killings while patting the security forces for their act of atrocities on the people of the State.

The Union Minister reportedly made the statement during talks with the representatives of the Apunba Lup yesterday.

It is rather surprising that a responsible Central leader like him should make such a statement although the State been burning for the last 55 days during which two precious lives have been lost and thousands of people suffered injuries in police action, Umakanta remarked, and observed that giving compensation after killing a person is not justice.

The statement of the Union Minister has also confirmed that mainstream India looks at the people of North Eastern region including Manipur as second class citizens, Umakanta said.

Decrying the action of the State Government and its machineries in arresting Sapamcha Kangleipal, the president of MAFYF which is one of the constituent units of the 32 organizations spearheading the ongoing agitation while inviting for talks to end the present crisis, Umakanta said it smacks of a deep conspiracy on the part of the State Government in connivance with the Centre to subdue the voice of the people who are demanding their democratic rights to live.

India Government knows very well that the fundamental rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution are being violated under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, yet it has no concern about the plight of the people who have been subjected to all sorts of atrocities committed by the security forces for the last 40 years, rued Umakanta.

Reiterating that Apunba Lup would continue to agitate till the demand of the people for complete withdrawal of black laws from Manipur is achieved, Umakanta disclosed that arrangement made been made for taking the public mandate to intensify the ongoing agitation.

Meanwhile, the various form of agitation that have been launched like Wakat Khongjang, Mipal Tangdaba and mass civil disobedience movement, boycott of classes and Government offices would remain, he added.

Apparently referring to the move of the Government to declare the 32 organisations spearheading the ongoing movement as outlawed organizations, Umakanta categorically stated that security forces should be in fact branded as outlawed for violating the directives of the Supreme Court with regard to dos and don�ts given for implementation of AFSPA.

DESAM president L Romesh who also addressed to the media persons questioned why the Government should protect and shield the guilty security personnel involved in allegedly rape and brutal killing of Manorama when Dhananjoy Chatterjee of West Bengal was given capital punishment for committing a similar crime.

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