Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, November 22:
Going about a witch-hunt on the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), the Democratic People's Party (DPP) has particularized former Union minister Th Chaoba Singh and his Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) as pro-POTO.
In a statement, the DPP has charged that Th Chaoba, president of the MSCP, has publicly lent his personal as well as his party's support to the POTO during the recently held meeting of the NDA in New Delhi in which he was present.
As such, both Th Chaoba and all in the MSCP are supporters of the POTO, it added.
It is very clear that they (MSCP members) have forgotten the lesson taught to them by the people of Manipur very recently.
The people of Manipur should also not forget that as a Union minister of state in the Vajpayee government, Th Chaoba was a party to extension of the NSCN(I-M) cease-fire to Manipur, the DPP statement said adding if Chaoba had a little bit of love for Manipur, he ought to have resigned but he instead clung on to his post.
Sharpening the attack, the DPP statement said Chaoba is devoid of personal .shame and has no regard for the Manipuri people and it was explicitly evident when even after he was dropped from the Vajpayee government, he backed the move to make the POTO become a law.
In this reference, the DPP statement cautioned the Centre that Th Cahoba does not represent the sentiments of the people of Manipur.
The DPP, claiming that it is the first political party to voice its opposition to the POTO in the entire North East, expressed solidarity with the national and regional political parties which expressed dissent against the ordinance.