Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 16:
Former Lok Sabha MP has come out strongly against the knee-jerk reaction of the State Government in imposing curfew to curtail the rights of the people to protest against the excesses of the security personnel.
Mincing no words, the former MP said that Chief Minister O Ibobi should not come under the illusion that curfew is the antidote to all the problems afflicting the State and added that in the long run such tactics of muffling the voice of the people will backfire.
Kim Gangte also questioned what has happened to all the promises made by the candidates before the MP election that they would work for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
"Where are they now?" she questioned indignantly.
The former MP also took pains to remind how she initiated a discussion on the negative impact of the AFSPA on the floor of the House when she was an MP.
Pulling up the mainstream media for not giving due coverage to the present uproar, Kim Gangte recalled that when a woman, Asraj, was killed in Gujarat along with some militants, the national media went over board in covering the story.
Here, Manorama was killed after an arrest memo was issued; she asserted and added, "This is a clear discrimination against the people of Manipur by the mainstream media".
Calling for a united struggle, Kim Gangte said the present uproar and turmoil should be the ideal time for all to strike up a unified movement for all times to come.
Such unity should not fizzle out even after the issue subsides, she added.
Hailing the guts and commitment of the women who disrobed in front of Kangla to protest against the excesses of the security personnel, Kim Gangte said their action has proved the commitment and dedication of the women folk to save the people and Manipur from the clutches of the security personnel.