Shiv Sena, CPI join 'repeal AFSPA' call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2021: The Shiv Sena State unit has resolved to support political party (ies) which can remove Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958 from Mani-pur in forming the next Government.

Addressing a press briefing at Babupara today, party president M Tombi said the people of Manipur still remember the killings at Heirangoithong, Malom, RIMS as well as the incident of Thangjam Manorama where the excesses of security forces were visible glaringly.

Claiming that Chief Minister N Biren had also urged the Centre to repeal AFSPA from Manipur, he urged N Biren Singh to put more pressure on the Centre to remove AFSPA from North East India as done by his counterparts in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

He said that the Chief Minister has nothing to fear as the people are with him on this issue.

Condemning the killing of 13/14 innocent civilians by the Assam Rifles in Nagaland's Mon district recently, Tombi expressed hope that the Chief Minister will play a key role in demanding removal of the 'draconian' AFSPA from the North East.

He lauded all civil society organisations who came out in streets to protest the 'massacre' and demanded removal of AFSPA collectively.

Saying that the Congress had already removed AFSPA from seven Assembly segments of Manipur, he asked what the BJP has done so far to remove the draconian law.

If the Shiv Sena comes to power then the party will put pressure on the Centre to remove AFSPA, he said.

On Covid, M Tombi asked why the BJP Government is flouting the rules they made to contain the spread of coronavirus and added that converting the poll preparation as a festival is not a good sign amidst the pandemic.

The Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council has, on the other hand, resolved to launch intense agitation if the AFSPA is not removed from Manipur.

In a statement, the CPI State Council said that the massacre at Mon district, Nagaland could have been averted had the AFSPA been not imposed there.

Strongly condemning the killing of innocent civilians, the Left party claimed that over 1550 people have been killed under AFSPA and a large number of women have been raped or molested.

The incident in Mon district has revived the struggle of CPI to repeal AFSPA, it said and added that the Left party has submitted memoranda to different Prime Ministers to remove this law which grants sweeping powers to security forces.

The Left party then urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to stand firmly against AFSPA and convene a Cabinet meeting to discuss the issue.

The Act is still enforced in Manipur though the Jeevan Reddy Committee had submitted its report to remove AFSPA, it claimed and accused the Centre of giving stepmotherly treatment to the people of North East India.

It then urged the BJP Government to deliver its promise of removing AFSPA from Manipur at the earliest.

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