Imphal, October 16: Reacting to the statements of Chief Minister O Ibobi and Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya at the Congress workers' conference of Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency recently, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup alleged that their statements amounted to befooling the people of Manipur and taking the Congress workers as illiterate fools.

A statement issued by WCAL slammed the Chief Minister for his contention that administration in Manipur would be impossible without the notorious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958.It observed that the infamous AFSPA is not imposed in any part of mainland India where there are crimes galore of killings and several cases of organised crimes.

Yet, these States do their administrations without AFSPA and protect their so called vital installations like airports, radio stations etc.

However, here in Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi consistently maintained that in the absence of AFSPA, the State Govt would not be able to protect 'vital installations' and take up any developmental work, it contradicted.

Clarifying that the ongoing people's movement is in pursuit of a complete halt to excesses committed by security forces and to ensure the rights to live of the people of Manipur, it noted that even if people are given the right to vote during the time elections to camouflage its true colour, the right to live in its true sense and spirit under the Indian Constitution has not been provided to the people of Manipur till date.

It further alleged that even as Chief Minister O Ibobi has shown deep concern for the 'vital installations', he neither cared for the people nor was his consciousness disturbed when the central and State security forces committed atrocities and murdered innocent peoples.

Regarding the statement of MP Dr Meinya that AFSPA could not be repealed at the demand of a single individual, WCAL construed that the statement was a direct insult to the people of Manipur.

Such insult against the people of Manipur by using the name of Irom Sharmila was a clear display of the MP's insensitivity to the issue, it remarked.

Further, Apunba Lup cautioned that the MP would be held accountable if the Union and State Governments conspire to subjugate the justified movement of the people with the help of false and misleading propaganda.

On the other hand, WCAL conveyed its indebtedness to the people for making today's general strike a complete success while appealing to remain prepared for further mass movements.

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