Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 16:
Strongly reacting against the statement of Chief Minister O Ibobi at New Delhi today that there is no question of lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the entire State of Manipur, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today said that it is set to intensify its stir and added that a bandh on NH-39 and NH-53 has been imposed from September 9 till October 4.In a statement, the Lup said that no goods carrier and passenger vehicles will be allowed to enter or leave Manipur during the bandh period and added that it will continue to intensify its stir till the demands of the people are met.
Castigating the CM's remarks, the Lup said that it is highly irresponsible for Ibobi to have uttered such non-sensical words at New Delhi, when the entire State is up in arms against the AFSPA.
The very statement of the Chief Minister that normalcy has returned to Manipur is nothing but a figment of his imagination, said the statement and advised the CM not to forget that the agitation will continue until and unless the demands of the people are met.
Instead to trying to give some good report cards to Delhi, the Chief Minister should sincerely try to address the grievances of the people and if he is unable to do that then he should refrain from making such juvenile statement, said the Lup.
The agitation may see a lull and it may intensify but that does not mean that it has died a natural death, reminded the Lup.
The remarks of the CM, "The Act cannot be revoked entirely" even when the people of the North East have risen as one is ample testimony that Ibobi has been sleep walking his way through the protests raised by the people, said the statement.
The stand of the CM against the revocation of the Act proves that the CM and his men are ready to turn Manipur into a den of terrorists while lining their pockets with money doled out by Delhi, charged the Lup.
Questioning Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the Lup said it is surprising that he should go to the extent of advising BSF personnel not to abuse the clauses of AFSPA while at the same time he is all for the continued imposition of the Act in the region.