KIM condemns CM Biren's remark
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, March 12 2023:
Strongly condemning chief minister N Biren Singh's remark over the peace rallies held on March 10 in hill districts of the state, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has termed the CM s statement as 'flagrant falsification' to divert the real issue of the tribals.
Reacting to the CM s remark made while talking with NE Live editor-in-chief Wasbir Hussain in connection the rallies, KIM information and publicity secretary Janghaolun Haokip said that the peaceful mass rally was organised as a result of pure public discontent over the extreme disregard of Scheduled Hill Areas and Article 371C of the Indian Constitution by the state government.
He continued that the rally was proposed in pursuant to the Constitution of India, Article 19 (1) (b) which grants the citizens the right to assemble peacefully and without arms.
He also stated that the subsequent imposition of CrPC Section 144 is a scathing attack on the constitutional right to freedom to assemble peacefully and without arms.
With regard to the chief minister mentioning that rallies were organised in only two districts, the KIM leader clarified that rallies were taken out in six districts namely Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, Jiri-Tamenglong, Pherzawl and also in New Delhi.
He further stated that the insolent and imprudent terming of participants of rallies as encroachers, poppy cultivators, drug smugglers and illegal immigrants was extremely affronting and regrettable.
Regarding the allegation of involvement of militant outfits Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki National Army (KNA) in the rallies, the KIM leader asserted that no such outfits were involved or influenced the rallies.