Imphal, August 20: To enable the people to pay fitting tributes to the departed soul of Pebam Chittaranjan, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has today announced that the general strike will be relaxed and urged all to come out in full strength to salute the departed soul.

The Lup has also appealed to the people to lit up candles and torch at their respective gates in the night to pay their respect to Chittaranjan.

However the people's movement will go on unhindered, said the Lup in a statement adding that the non-cooperation movement and boycott of Government offices will continue unhindered.

Announcing that a one month long protest (Wakat Khongchat) will be launched, the statement urged all the people to forgo their morning meals and to gather at each and every leikais by 9 am everyday.

At 9.30 am, the people will stage a march up to the Wakat Mipham raising slogans.

Then from 11 am till 2 pm, the people will stage a Wakat Mipham after which the people will go back to their respective leikais raising slogans, said the statement.

The people have also been urged to ensure that shopkeepers and Govt employees in their respective leikais take part in the agitation.

Going on the offensive against the crack down launched on the agitators, the statement said that though Union Home Minister had announced that the doors of the Govt are left wide open for unconditional talks, the Govt machinery have been cracking down on the agitators and booking them under the National Security Act.

Threats have even been issued about banning the Organizations spearheading the movement.

Such policies adopted by the Govt, at the Centre and at the State, reflect the double standard of the authority, charged the Lup.

Under the pretext of protecting the morale of the Indian security personnel, the Govt has been shielding the personnel responsible for the custodial killing of Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai and Th Manorama while the people who have been launching a democratic protest have been targeted by the Govt, said the Lup.

Even today, the Assam Rifles have not co-operated with the C Upendra Commission and instead they have approached the Gauhati High Court to challenge the legality of the Commission, said the Lup adding that such a policy is nothing but an attempt to further alienate the people of Manipur from the Indian mainstream.

Deriding the appeal of the Chief Minister for peace, the Lup said that on the one hand the appeal is issued while on the other, the police have been instructed to arrest the agitators.

Such double speak of the Chief Minister will not be tolerated, it added.

The attempt to bring about any imposed peace, by firing rubber bullets, tear gas shells and mockery bombs and hunting down the agitators, will not bear fruits, said the statement.

The Government of India too should study the legality of an Act or a law from the view of how it is persecuting the people or enforcing justice.

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