Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20 2009:
In addition to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, political leaders of New Delhi (UPA Government) have now been made the extended target of the Apunba Lup's tirade.
Despite the vociferous, massive and prolonged civil movement of the people, Chief Minister O Ibobi has not flinched a little bit.
On the other hand, leaders of New Delhi have been showering their blessings on Ibobi, who happens to be their favourite proxy, alleged the Apunba Lup in a statement today.
The Apunba Lup decried that Chief Minister O Ibobi, his MLAs and Ministers and UPA leaders are yet to open their eyes to the people's massive democratic movements like sit-in-protests, protest rallies, torch rallies, Manipur bandhs, mass court arrest etc.
Notwithstanding the epithet, the largest democracy of the world, democratic and non-violent movements were never enough to knock the conscience of the political leaders of India.
This has been proved time and again during different mass movements in Manipur and her neighbouring States, said Apunba Lup.
By stubbornly ignoring the ongoing people's movement, Chief Minister O Ibobi and the Government of India are only inviting violent and bloody movements, it said.
It's time for the political leaders of New Delhi to make it clear whether Manipur is a State of democratic India, where there is rule of law or whether Manipur is a colony of India, the Apunba Lup demanded.
Since Okram Ibobi assumed the office of the Chief Minister in 2002, the sky of Manipur has been filled with the cries of widows, parents and children who have lost their husbands, sons, daughters, fathers or mothers.
In every direction, billowing smokes of cremation can be seen every day.
Asserting that it is already time for the MLAs and Ministers to introspect and retrospect their continued support to Chief Minister O Ibobi, the Apunba Lup cautioned that family members of Ministers and MLAs may also fall victims of Ibobi's killing spree.
The Apunba Lup called upon the ruling MLAs to ponder over the emerging compulsion to change their leader.
It also called upon the people to prepare for the final phase of the movement to remove O Ibobi from his seat as well as against state terrorism rather than waiting to be killed by police and security forces any time, anywhere.
The Apunba Lup strongly condemned the act of excesses committed by police against their brothers and sisters who are fighting for justice in a democratic manner.
Asking police personnel to defy the orders of Ibobi, Apunba Lup appealed to the police personnel to help in saving the nation.
The Apunba Lup further condemned the detention of a minor girl from Nongmaikhong Mayai Leikai for several years because her parents could not be arrested.
It also condemned the assault on a young woman by police personnel at Khurai during the 36 hours general strike yesterday.