'Manipur under undeclared emergency'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 16 2023: Ten Opposition political parties have accused the BJP Government of manipulating and twisting laws/statutes by imposing an undeclared emergency or President's Rule in the State.

Speaking on behalf of the 10 political parties at Manipur Press Club here today, JD(U) National Executive member Dr Nimaichand Luwang condemned the alleged excesses committed by a police officer against the participants of a rally organised by the Opposition parties which started from Congress Bhavan and was heading toward the Raj Bhavan a few days back.

The rally was taken out after an understanding was reached with the top ranking police officers, he said.

'Manipur under undeclared emergency'

It is a matter of grave concern that many students including NSUI members have been arrested by police even though they did not take part in the rally, Dr Nimaichand said.

The violent crisis which has been besieging the State since May 3 will die down on its own once N Biren steps down from the post of Chief Minister, he said.

Once the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha election come out, there will be no BJP Government in India and peace will return in Manipur as soon as the BJP Government at the Centre is ousted, he claimed.

The demands for separate State or administration would vanish as soon as BJP is thrown out of power, Dr Nimaichand said.

The 10 political parties took out a rally to submit a memorandum to the Governor seeking restoration of peace in the State, location of the dead bodies of the two students and enhancement of the financial component of the rehabilitation package, he said.

The Government has been twisting the laws to suit its interests.

It is rather unfortunate that the Government sent police to arrest some Congress leaders who took part in the rally, Dr Nimaichand continued.

Pointing out that security forces lashed many women at Sabungkhok recently, he said that the incumbent Government has no qualms in assaulting even women.

Whereas the Government has failed miserably in maintaining law and order, it is not allowing any democratic form of agitation.

The Government has the audacity to fire live bullets upon protesting students, he remarked.

On the other hand, the Government chose to remain silent to the sustained agitation for creation of a separate administration, Nimaichand said.

He also questioned the inability of the Government to pull up those people responsible for the bomb attacks at the residence of BJP Minister Y Khemchand, firing at NPP office, vandalism at the residence of human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam.

MPCC vice-president Hareshwar Goswami said that there was some confrontation between Congress workers and police as the latter tried to foil a peaceful rally.

Now police are charging some Congress workers with trying to snatch weapons.

Police have already arrested six students including ones who are currently giving exams, Hareshwar said and condemned the arrest in the strongest terms.

Decrying that police are currently searching for six Congress workers including MPYCC president Ningthoujam Popilal and Achoibam Deben, a former Congress candidate in Lamlai AC, the MPCC vice-president demanded an immediate halt to the witch-hunt.

He also demanded immediate and unconditional release of all the NSUI volunteers.

There are three sets of laws in Manipur, one in the hills and two in the valley.

Of the two sets of law currently enforced in the valley, one is applied to BJP and its associates while the other is applied to those who are opposed to BJP, Hareshwar Goswami said.

He also questioned the Government's failure to take up any tangible action against all those people who were involved in the gangrape case of a Meitei woman at Churachandpur and looting of weapons from a Churachandpur gun house.

People are fully aware of how some armed youngsters of BJP have been acting at their whims and fancy without any respect for the law.

The current situation in Manipur under the BJP Government is nothing short of undeclared Emergency or President's Rule, he remarked.

CPI State Council former Secretary L Sotinkumar, former Minister and JD(U) National Executive member Samuel Jendai and CPI(M) Manipur State secretary Kshetrimayum Shanta were also present at the press meet.