Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 21:
The Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) is ready for the next course of agitation even as it has extended its gratitude to the people of the State for their cooperation during the general strike which began from 6 am of November 20 and ended at 6 pm today.
A statement issued by MSF conveyed hope that the people would extend support to its subsequent agitation of sabotaging all activities of the Congress party.
Asserting that the State has failed to provide any plausible reason for the prolonged detention of the MSF leaders, it recalled that the SPF Government ironically could not detain, even for a single moment, many criminals whose actions were thousand fold grievous and far more outrageous.
MSF recalled that some proscribed individuals held with incriminating documents some time back were taken to their place and set free with honour while imposing curfew at Imphal.
In another such case, a huge quantity of weapons seized from a UG group was given back by the Chief Minister, alleged MSF.
The 36-hour general strike was called to expose the personal animosity harboured by some Congress Ministers and MLAs against MSF.
In fact, the ill-feelings harboured by these Ministers and MLAs are instrumental for the continued detention of the MSF leaders, alleged the student body.
Disclosing that it is ready to sabotage all activities of the Congress party, MSF announced that it would resume confiscation of official documents.
MSF didn't perceive those individuals who came out on the roads during the strike due to urgent works as defiance of the general strike and as such MSF did not target them.
Moreover, the student body asserted that the State Government should be held responsible for the death, mishaps and other untoward incidents that took place during the general strike.
Observing that Chief Minister O Ibobi is not that person with whom things could be settled by dialogue, MSF attributed the numerous protest movements during his tenure to Ibobi's obdurate nature.
Reacting to the statement of Chief Minister O Ibobi that he would adopt resolutions even at midnight provided the demands were justified, MSF asked the Chief Minister to adopt resolutions during day time instead of troubling himself to take resolutions at midnight concerning its justified demands before the matter snow-balled into a momentous issue.
Were the demands to release students arrested in connection with the stir urging for ensuring regular classes to aided college students unjustified or the demands to punish security personnel involved in extra-judicial killing of civilians and committing crimes against women unjustified, asked MSF to the Chief Minister.
If the people's demand to repeal AFSPA 1958 were not justified in the eyes of O Ibobi, then bribery of officials and Ministers and secretive talks behind closed doors in official quarters must be justified and legitimate in his view, countered the student body.
It went on to say that the Congress Ministers would not mind taking decisions at midnight if it were for contract works and sharing of percentages.
Stating that MSF would ever remain grateful for the cooperation extended by people, it also acknowledged the hardships endured by people during the general strike.
It further appealed to the people to help MSF in sabotaging the activities of Congress party.