MPSA protests use of SoO groups
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 04 2022: In protest against alleged use of armed outfits under Suspension of Operation (SoO) in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, Manipur Secular Progressive Alliance (MPSA) formed recently by INC, CPI, CPI(M), Forward Block, RSP and Janata Dal (Secular) organised a sit-in-protest in front of Congress Bhawan, BT Road here on Friday.

After the sit-in, the protestors led by MPCC president N Loken took out a rally but a large number of police personnel stopped the rallyists in front of Kangla western gate.

The rallyists then formed a human chain there.

Protestors held several placards some of which read 'Awake ECI', 'Hook and crook government', 'Stop poll violence', 'Save Manipur', 'Stop criminalisation in polities', 'Honour Constitution' and 'Campaigning with SoO groups condemnable' during the protest.

MPCC president N Loken told media persons that muscle and money power and violence will never succeed in democracy and MPSA staged the protest against widespread violence in election including booth capturing and other malpractices by SoO groups.

SoO groups captured booths in at least 23 polling stations in Henglep AC and a complaint in this regard was filed to relevant authorities including RO but no re-poll has been declared.

He then appealed to electors to teach BJP a fitting lesson during Saturday's second phase election.

In view of the favourable attitude of Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa towards SoO groups, violence and attack on supporters of non-BJP parties are increasing ahead of the second phase election while complaints filed to ECI about violence in election remained suppressed and rendered meaningless.

AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das, who also took part in the protest, told media persons that preventing peaceful protest in front of offices of Congress and other secular parties indicates that there is no democracy in the state and strongly condemned the repressive BJP administration.

CPI national executive member Dr M Nara said that the BJP government is against democracy, secularism and socialism and the present government is anti-people and anti-poor.

He further said that BJP led government which supports corporates is doing many things against the law and MPSA staged the protest against such illegal activities of the BJP led government.

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