CPI condemns FIR against NFIW leaders, Binoy Viswam writes to CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 14 2023: The Communist Party of India has strongly condemned the FIR filed against the general secretary of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) and CPI National executive member Annie Raja, NFIW National secretary Nisha Sidhu and independent lawyer Deeksha Dwivedi, who were members of the NFIW led fact-finding team that visited Manipur.

In a release, CPI alleged that the FIR filed at Imphal on July 8, 2023 was clearly vindictive and malicious without any element of truth in it.

It stated that the invocation of criminal proceedings against reputed women leaders is a clear indication of the abuse of power by the local component of the double-engine Government.

"The CPI views the criminalization of the democratic process of fact-finding as an assault on constitutional ethos.

The double-engine Government of BJP seems keen on escaping all manners of transparency and accountability to the citizenry of this country", it added.

CPI continued that for almost three months now, Manipur is under severe crisis and instability with an unprecedented loss of life and property.

The statement also mentioned that while several factors are at play in the current situation that are exacerbating the violence, the most glaring and unacceptable one is the absolute state of apathy and inaction.

It asserted that the silence of the Prime Minister and incompetence of the incumbent Chief Minister stand antithetical to all Constitutional values.

It also alleged that the action as well as the inaction of the Governments in the current crisis displays the RSS-BJP combine's pro-corporate agenda.

"CPI and the democratic forces will stand up before any kind of intimidation and fight legally and politically to uphold truth and justice", said CPI.

Meanwhile, CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam has written a letter to Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressing concern over the suppression of democratic rights in the State under his Government.

In his letter, the MP said that Manipur is grappling with violence for over two months now and the state machinery is failing in upholding law and order in the State.

He said that disturbing developments from Manipur have perturbed people all over the country and many sections have voiced their concerns while aspiring for peace and normalcy to prevail in the state.

"It is extremely unfortunate that such democratic voices are being suppressed by the Government and even those offering assistance in peace-building are being targeted", he added.

Calling the FIR filed against the fact-finding committee of NFIW that visited Manipur as undemocratic, he said, "members of the delegation who visited the State and interacted with victims of violence, displacement and arson were charged with sedition, provocation with intent to cause riot, assertions prejudicial to national-integration and promoting enmity between different groups at Imphal Police Station" .

He also asserted that continuation of violence in the State is an indictment of the failure of the State Government in maintaining harmony and the FIR registered against NFIW activists is an undemocratic attempt to intimidate voices critical of the Government over its handling of the crisis.

The MP further urged the CM to immediately rescind the fabricated charges against NFIW activists and stop the suppression of democratic norms in Manipur.

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