Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 18:
Though the general strike will continue until the funeral rites of Pebam Chittaranjan are finalized, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has today announced that the restrictions will be relaxed for passenger buses, jeeps, vans, autos etc to enable the people to come out and pay respect to the departed soul of Chittaranjan.
The Lup has however said that the general strike will continue and will cover commercial shops and Govt offices.
Reacting to the statement of Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the floor of Parliament yesterday, where he was quoted as saying, "We are giving an opportunity to the elected representatives to do their duty and if they fail, the Nation will do its duty," the Working Committee of the Lup today questioned whether the word Nation includes Manipur or not.
The demand for the revocation of the AFSPA following the killings of Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai and Th Manorama is still simmering, said the Apunba Lup and added that though the Home Minister may say that processes have been taken up to nail the culprits involved in the killing in Parliament, such comments will not fool the people of Manipur.
The design of the Centre and the State Government to paint the present demand as anti-India will only further give a boost to deeply rooted feeling of alienation among the people, said the Lup and added that the Centre is still hell bent on making the people of Manipur suffer.