ZYF decries imposition of CrPC 144
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 03 2011:
There Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has strong denounced Government of Manipur imposing Section 144 CrPC on NH 37 (erstwhile 53), which prohibits public movement while there is no such restrictions in Sadar Hills area despite the continuing total blockade being imposed by the SHDDC.
Section 144 CrPC is a tool very often misused by the Government of Manipur to suppress people, more particularly the Nagas, the ZYF alleged in a press release.
It is illogical for Sadar Hills district demand committee for continuing blockade as the representatives of the committee including the three Kuki MLAs, former Kuki MLAs and leaders of various Kukis organisations have already held several meetings and discussed the issue with the Government of Manipur following the advice of the Government of India to settle the matter with the State Government.
The time has now come for the Government of India to explore mechanism for complete lifting of the highway blockade so that the suffering of the people are relieved and normalcy restored at the earliest.
The wisdom of the Govt.of India with judicious intervention at such a critical juncture is the only option to settle and bring amicable solution to the issue, it asserted.
In such a critical juncture, it is very unfortunate to see some organisations working to earn popularity out of the Sadar Hills issue.
The Nagas and Kukis are the dominant community in the Sadar Hills areas with comparatively equal population, therefore, pursuing for Sadar Hills district when the Nagas are strongly opposed to it is not in the larger interest of the people living in the areas.
The enthusiastic support of some organisations regarding the Sadar Hills issues exposed its immaturity, ignorance of the historical facts, land issues and geographical areas of the hill districts.
"What will be the reaction of those organisations if Nagas extend maximum support in favour of migrants in the event of demanding separate district after carving out from valley districts"?, the ZYF asked.
Nagas strong opposition to the creation of Sadar Hills issue is not a new subject and it is reflected very clearly reflected in the various Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Nagas and the Government of Manipur much before those organisations favouring the Sadar Hills issue came into existence.
The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) does not see any good reason for the people who are not related to the land issues to meddle with extreme enthusiasm.
Instead of sending representatives to Kangpokpi or Saparmeina areas, the primary task and focus point for those organisations would be to first convince the Meiteis living in the areas of Koutruk, Khurkhul etc.
who are strongly opposing the demand of the Sadar Hills district, it stated.
The imposition of Section 144 CrPC on NH 37 following imposition of counter blockade by the United Naga Council (UNC) opposing the Sadar Hills issues once again exhibited the Government of Manipur's anti Nagas policy.
It would be wise on the part of the Government of India to issue strong directive to the Government of Manipur to lift the Section 144 CrPC imposed on NH 37 before things go out of hand considering the woes and suffering of the people.
The Govt.of Manipur imposing Section 144 CrPC on the National Highway on the pretext of pre-emptive measures is anti Naga and one sided attitude and as such condemned it, the ZYF added.