Ibomcha sticks to stand, demands apology
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2016 : MLA L Ibomcha Singh today said that the question of withdrawing the FIR he had filed against Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and to tender an apology as demanded by Naga bodies does not arise at this stage. The MLA said this in an apparent reference to the demand put up by the United Naga Council that he should withdraw the FIRs lodged against TR Zeliang and the Naga Students' Federation and tender an apology.

On the other hand, MLA L Ibomcha in a statement said, "if they (Zeliang and NSF) apologise, the FIR will be withdrawn, otherwise the law will take its own course of action" .

Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 (a) of the Constitution of India but it is not an absolute right as it is subject to reasonable restrictions, L Ibomcha said in the statement.

The predominant idea and determined and malicious motive of TR Zeliang under the garb of emotional and cultural integration of Nagas is to bring the State Govt of Manipur and its instruments into hatred and contempt and raise hostile feelings against the State Govt.Such expression is not only contrary to affection but certainly is exciting feelings of disloyalty which may amount to enmity or feeling of enmity, he said.

With the feeling of hatred, the law can do nothing because it cannot see into the heart and reform it.

But law does step in when an attempt is made to excite that feeling in the mind of other communities.

Since the criminal law of the country has long arm to deal with such an issue, it will take its own course so that justice is 'not weeping in silence', the MLA said.

"The question of withdrawal of the FIR and apology does not arise at all at this stage," he maintained.

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