Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 14, 2009:
Alleging that Chief Minister O Ibobi and his men have started using the services of their cohorts to start a campaign to tempt the people not to join the ongoing agitation by promising them money, jobs and contract works, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has alleged that in the face of their failure to crush the people's movement, the Government has started spreading canards and infamy.
In a statement, the Apunba Lup claimed that the Government has been using Congress and CPI agents to spread the canard that the agitation will fail and that all agitators will be arrested and put in jail for long terms.
These agents have also been campaigning that the agitation launched by the Apunba Lup will only be to the loss of the locality and the people.
Making its stand clear, the Apunba Lup said that the Chief Minister and his men should stop spreading false rumours about the womenfolk as well as members of local clubs and organisations who are taking an active part in the agitation.
The ploy of the Congress MLAs and the Ministers in mocking at the agitators will never bear fruit, it said and added that it would be better for the CPI workers to immediately cease their activities, before their acts of commission and omission are laid bare in front of the public.
Accusing the Government of taking up various measures to curb the movement, the statement said that it has been trying to lure MLAs of other political parties as well as those intending to contest the next election that they would be given Congress tickets.
Despite the numerous measures taken up by the Government, the public agitation is gaining strength with each passing day, said Apunba Lup and added that arresting the people will not be able to cow them down.
The bold steps taken up by AMSU and MSF have further added to the discomfiture of the Government, it claimed further.
Claiming that Ibobi has started a civil war, the Apunba Lup said that the SPF Government has totally lost the trust and confidence of the people.
Saving Ibobi would amount to destroying the whole garden just to protect a single flower, it added.
Levelling a number of charges, the statement said that while Ibobi is smug under the belief that the people still support him and he would the next election, on the other hand, he has been spreading the canard that the people's movement is politically motivated.
Adding salt to the wounds of the people, the Apunba Lup alleged that Ibobi has also been maintaining that he would win the election if it is held at Khurai, the AC to which Sanjit belonged to and Lamshang, the AC to which the late Th Rabina belonged.
Such a posture does not befit the Chief Minister of a State, asserted Apunba Lup.
The Apunba Lup also asked the Governor to leave supporting the Government, which has lost all credibility.
The people of Manipur have already shown what they can do with such unwanted elements, added Apunba Lup.
Alleging that the Chief Minister had also bought the support of Union Home Secretary JK Pillai and his team, the Apunba Lup said that despite all these measures, the people's movement is gaining strength by the day.
The Apunba Lup also reminded the people of its earlier call not to have contacts with Congress and CPI MLAs.
It also urged the people to forward information in case anyone lends out anything to any function attended by Congress and CPI MLAs.
Stern action will be taken up against such people, it warned.