Sit-in demands release of Kisorchandra
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 13 2019: Pakhangba Cultural Club (PCC), Mayai Koibi Development Association, Mayai Koibi Mamang Leikai Development Association and the womenfolk of Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi along with human rights activists and student bodies, staged a sit-in at Mayai Koibi, demanding immediate release of former ISTV employee Kishorchandra Wangkhem who is being detained under NSA for uploading a Facebook post criticising the BJP led Government in the Centre and the State.

Human Rights activist Babloo Loitongbam, who also attended the sit-in-protest decried the detention under NSA a day after Imphal West Chief Judicial Magistrate released Kishorchandra ruling that his Facebook post does not amount to sedition and that it was just an expression criticising the Government.

Claiming that Kishorchandra does not deserve to be detained under NSA although he might be a 'habitual offender', he said that the detention under NSA by the State Government is ultra vires.

He reminded that even Chief Minister N Biren was detained once under NSA on sedition charge while he was a journalist and everyone, including him decried the detention.

Saying that the reason why Kishorchandra had uploaded his Facebook post need to be introspected by the whole public, Babloo stated that it 'seems' that the some political leaders of the State are 'influenced' by Hindutva ideology.

Further noting that even Chief Minister Biren had 'distorted' the history and cultural ethos of the State and North East Region by connecting the region with Mahabharata in one of his speech at Madhavpur, the human rights activist opined that this may be the reason behind the use of aggressive words by Kishoechandra in his Facebook post.

Even though reasonable restriction is added in the freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution, it should be interpreted proportionately and appropriately.

Like the AFSPA, the National Security Act itself is a 'draconian and arbitrary' which is against international human rights law, he added.

He appealed the masses to start a movement against these arbitrary laws where those in powers 'usually misused' the laws for vested interest and stressed that the case of Kishorchandra should be pushed before the Lok Sabha election.

Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) vice president Furkan Makakmayum said the Government is for the people and it should protect the rights of the citizen.

Maintaining that Government leaders in a democratic setup must listen to the voices of the people and welcome the criticism from the people, he said that leaders who cannot tolerate criticism from the people should evacuate their posts and quit posing as public figure.

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