Protest of Oppn parties continues
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29 2021:
The 11-day Statewide protest called by 11 Opposition parties in Manipur in line with the Nationwide protest raising many demands to the Modi-led NDA Government continued with Opposition parties convening a protest meeting at Uyumpok Maning Leikai community Hall under Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency today.
The Nationwide protest started on September 20 with 19 Opposition parties pressing various demands including relief schemes for Covid affected people, solutions to address fuel price hike issue and subsequent price rise of essential commodities, withdrawal of contentious farm laws, to stop privatization of public sector enterprises, proper dealing of Pegasus row, unemployment and others.
Representatives of political parties viz-AIFB, AITC, BSP, CPI-MSC, CPI(M), INC, JD (S), MPP, NCP, PRJA and RSP attended the protest meeting.
Speaking at the occasion, CPI (M) leader Sarat Salam said that predecessors of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is at the helm of Government at the Centre had never taken part in India's independence movement but rather hindered the movement by supporting the British colonists.
The BJP is now doing the same by creating tensions and issues to make people suffer, he charged.
He said that the Nationwide protest should be considered as another war of independence from the 'misrule' of the NDA Government.
The protest to condemn the misinterpretation of Indian Constitution and the idea of secularism envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru will continue till tomorrow, he continued.
The month of September is very significant as many important dates linked to Lamyanba Hijam Irabot fall within the month and Khundrakpam has also close ties to the work of Lamyanba Irabot, he noted and said that the different political parties are being gathered at Khundrakpam to save the State from the BJP.
Former Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and MLA of Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency, Th Lokeshwar also said that the State Government has failed in various fronts and ruling party leaders are only good at rhetoric.
He also expressed concern that the State will move towards chaos and turmoil if the people continue to hand power to BJP.
He also cited inaction against anti-social elements and strongly condemned the recent security failure that led to abduction and gruesome murder of a tribal leader, Athuan Abonmai.
While sharing grief over the death of the leader, he also reiterated the need for a strong movement against the BJP-led Government that has failed to provide security and safety to the people.