NPF reacts, rejects Home Minister's assertion
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 23 2014: The Naga People's Front (NPF), Manipur State has said it totally rejected the contention of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhagam who also holds the charge of the Home portfolio made on the floor of the Assembly that the NPF statement was irresponsible or must have been made under pressure or outside influence.

Charging the Deputy Chief Minister, NPF, Manipur State general secretary Athuan Abonmai said the NPF team led by its president Soso Lorho, including ex-ministers and former MLAs among others, had visited and assessed the factual position at Ukhrul on July 17 and came to know that the imposition of CrPC Section 144 coupled with the deployment of a large numbers of state security forces numbering around 500 to 600, has clearly created a situation of chaos and disdain among the citizens vitiating the peaceful atmosphere in the area.

The desire of the public is for immediate revocation of CrPC Section 144 and withdrawal of the state security forces, he added.

Athuan Abonmai stated that what came as a surprise to all was that while the NPF disapproved the unusually large deployment of state security forces and imposition of the CrPC Section 144, the Manipur Home Minister was busy on the floor of the House dwelling upon the composition of the security forces claiming it comprised of all communities, including Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis etc.

The NPF rejected it outright as meaningless.

Athuan said the unwarranted statement itself was a testimony of inward feeling of insecurity and suspicion within the administrative tissues of the Government on one hand and the failure to grasp the crux of the situation in its entirety on the other.

"What Gaikhagam and others should also know is that obtaining permission for any public rally or meeting is a normal procedure all over the country and not only in Imphal East or West where CrPC sec 144 is imposed round the year as claimed by them.

In the case of Ukhrul, it is an irony that the district administration has advised the civil societies against holding any public meeting/rallies on the pretex of CrPC 144 being imposed.

Let us learn to differentiate things instead of unnecessarily dragging the names of the Prime Minister or the Congress president," he said.

"The NPF would advise them not to hoodwink the hon'ble Members of the August House in particular and the public in general.

"The NPF, as one of the oldest regional parties in the country is neither irresponsible nor one-sided nor acting under any outside influence, but rather in fact, working for regional interests and welfare of the people since its formation.

It is its bounden duty to highlight and fight against the malpractices and misrule of the Congress led Government in the State as a whole and the repressive and discriminatory policies towards the hill and the tribal people," Athuan Abonmai stated.

Athuan Abonmai asserted that the NPF, Manipur State would not tolerate any anti-Naga, anti-tribal policies of the present State Government through manipulative machinations, but will steadfastly hold the forth and tirelessly fight for the rights of the Nagas and the tribal people to live as a dignified people founded on justice and peace.

The NPF, Manipur State general secretary then drew the attention of the Governor, as the representative of the Centre to monitor and assess the fluid situation prevailing in the state and apprise New Delhi for the sake of restoration and prevalence of good governance in the State.

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