Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17:
Taking pot shots at the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wherein' he said that AFSPA will made more humane with no room for violating human rights, the United People's Front, Manipur today said that such utterances are nothing but a big lie.
In a statement, UPF said that the remarks of the Prime Minister that there is no peace in the North East and Kashmir is meaningless.
Mincing no words, the statement said that peace disappeared from the NE region the moment India robbed the rights of the people.
Mounting a series of accusations at Delhi, UPFsaid that though there is a law to ban the settlement of foreigners in India, the same has never been applied in the NE and Manipur and the result that one sees today, is the marginalisation of the natives.
The 2001 census showed that the people of Manipur have been reduced to a minority in their own State, it added.
The flora and fauna and the environment of Manipur has been destroyed by the Indian security personnel, it charged and added that though there is a provision in the Indian Constitution to protect the fundamental rights of the people, it has never been enforced in Manipur.
In the name of pursuing peace with the NSCN (IM), the Centre has given a free hand to the cadres of the armed group to foment communal passion, it charged and added that even today, no one responsible for enforcing the economic blockade for over 45 days have been booked or punished.