CPI decries 'arrest, re-arrest' of Sotinkumar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2019: The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India has strongly condemned the arrest and rearrest of L Sotinkumar, secretary of CPI - Manipur State Council, for taking a stand to share and support the anguish of the Manipuri people in particular and the people of the entire North-East in general, over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the move to bring in Nationwide NRC.

CPI conveyed that no amount of aggressive suppression of the people's resistance against the draconian law can cow down genuine protests.

Sotinkumar was arrested from CPI State Council office in the afternoon of December 20 while he was addressing a meeting on CAA for organising a successful and peaceful general strike on December 19 as a part of the All India protest of the Left Parties.

He was produced in the CJM office of Imphal West by Manipur police and charged under numerous sections of the IPC.

Sotinkumar was rearrested by Manipur police on December 21 after CJM Imphal West granted him bail, it mentioned, strongly condemning the arrest and demanding his immediate release unconditionally.

The party also demanded the State Government to withdraw all the cases filed against Sotinkumar and other members who led the protests.

On the other hand, CPI, CPI(M), RSP and AIFB have also vehemently condemned the decision to slap sedition cases against the leaders and activists of the Left Parties who were arrested in connection with the general strike of December 19.The Left Parties conveyed that they have always opposed the continuation of the sedition provision after independence and explained that this provision was brought in to protect the British crown and had been used widely to detain and silence prominent Indian freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi.

Calling a general strike against the unconstitutional, communal and undemocratic CAA is not a crime, it reasoned adding that it was a form of popular protest.

Expressing opinions on important matters through protest cannot be constituted as a crime and be termed as anti-National.

This is tantamount to punishing all those who have a dissenting opinion on the policies of the present Government.

This is a complete negation of democratic rights and reflects the growing authoritarianism in the country, the Left Parties alleged.

They further conveyed that it is surprising that Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Bishnupur, ordered the registering of this case, when the Supreme Court had ruled as early as 1962 that the sedition clause cannot be invoked unless there is a direct call or instigation of violence against the State.

The Left Parties then demanded the release of L Sotinkumar without any condition immediately and to rescind the sedition law.

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