Revoke AFSPA, release abducted civilians: Political parties
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 15 2024: Along with demanding unconditional and safe release of the six civilians including children, who were abducted from Jakuradhor village under Borobekra sub-divison in Jiribam district, Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur State Council in-charge Pallab Sengupta called for the revocation of Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1957, which was re-imposed in areas covered by six police stations of the state, adding that this will not bring any political solution to the prevailing issue.

In a press meet held at Irawat Bhawan, here on Friday, Pallab informed that the party held a meeting to discuss the situation in Jiribam.

The meeting called for the safe release of the abducted civilians to their families, he added.

Pallab continued that such incidents should have never happened in a democratic state.

Amid the absence of a political solution, the centre re-imposed AFSPA, which should be revoked immediately.

As long as the Act remains in effect, there will be no solution, he said, adding that the people of Manipur already have immense experience with his Act.

Pallab then accused the centre of not respecting the federal character of the Constitution with regard to the state.

This indicates that the government is failing to bring a political solution to the problem and as such, trying to use the military to supress the issues, he observed.

The state government needs to call an all political party meeting to discuss the best way to restore peace in the state.

PM Modi considers solving the Russia-Ukraine War the most important but failed to resolve the fire burning in his own backyard for over a year, he remarked.

Pallab then said that the party has been in contact with central leaders on how to solve the violence in Manipur.

Meanwhile, it (party) does not take the statements made by the chief minister of Mizoram lightly, he stated, while questioning what hidden agenda is in place for the failure in bringing a political solution to the conflict for a long time.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (APP) Manipur Unit State coordinator Th Bish-wanath, in a press meet held at Manipur Press Club on Friday stated that the centre's intention is now becoming increasingly clear with the re-imposition of AFSPA.

He further said that the stand of the central government is also made clearer with the deployment of more paramilitary forces in the state.

Manipur is now mirror a future almost similar to Jammu & Kashmir and it is raising concerns that the state would be divided into three different union territories like the latter.

In addition, the law of the land is not in the hands of the government but in the hands of a few people, which is further fuelling the conflict.

Kuki militant groups have vowed to continue on with the demands and misleading the innocent people with excerpts from the Bible.

The government should teach a lesson to such groups who want to use the conflict to take over the land, he asserted.

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