Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26:
Strongly reacting to the charges levelled by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Prakash Jaiswal, that the United Committee Manipur has links with underground outfits, the Committee today said that the accusation is nothing but to muffle the voice of the people against the atrocities of the Government.
In a statement issued to the press today, UCM said that it is public knowledge that the UCM was formed during the tumultuous days of June, 2001, when the people rose as one against the designs hatched by Delhi to compromise with the territory of Manipur.
Even today, the UCM has been taking up issues which concern the welfare of the people and added that it has also spoken fearlessly against any excesses committed by the underground outfits.
UCM has spoken out openly against extortions committed by underground organizations and it was also at the forefront of condemning the molestation of women at Piphema in Nagaland in 2002, said UCM.
This is not the first time that the Centre has tried to paint the UCM in the wrong light, said the statement and recalled that during the NDA rule too, Union MoS for Home ID Swami had said the same thing.
Should the UCM be accused of having links with any unlawful organization since it has demanded the rights of the people, questioned the statement.
What UCM is against are the repeated atrocities and excesses committed by the Govt agencies on the people, said the statement.
Even today, the Assam Rifles personnel responsible for killing, possibly after raping, Th Manorama are yet to be punished, said UCM and the attempt to paint the Committee in the wrong light is nothing but to muffle the voice of the people.
The UCM has no hidden agenda, the statement said adding that all its actions have always been taken up after due consultation with the people, it said.