KIM, KSO condemn
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, March 12 2023: While the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has vehemently condemned Chief Minister N Biren's statement over the protest rallies held in some hill district districts on March 10, the KSO Ghqs has decried the incident that took place at Kangpokpi on the same day.

The KIM has termed the CM's statement as "flagrant falsification" to divert the real issue of the tribals' dissent against his authoritarian governance in Manipur.

Reacting to the statement made by the Chief Minister while taking with the NE Live Editor-in-Chief, Wasbir Hussain over the peace rally, KIM Information and Publicity secretary Janghaolun Haokip clarified that the peaceful mass rally was organised as a result of pure public discontent over the alleged extreme disregard of Scheduled Hill Areas and Article 371C of the Indian Constitution by the State Government.

He continued that the rally was proposed pursuant to the Constitution of India, Article 19 (1) (b) which grants the citizens the right to assemble peacefully and without arms and therefore, the Chief Minister stating that the people are challenging Constitutional provisions, is but insensible and repugnant.

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 the rallies were organised in only two districts with only a few sections of the population participating in the rally, he clarified that in actuality, rallies were organised in over six districts, namely, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, Jiri-Tamenglong, Pherzawl, and at New Delhi with as many as 50,000 participants in Churachandpur alone, besides other blocks and districts.

He further stated that the insolent and imprudent terming of the rally goers as encroachers, poppy cultivators, drug smugglers, and illegal immigrants is extremely affronting and regrettable while it is an obtrusive example of the communal prejudice of the Chief Minister against the tribals and the Kukis in particular while adding that such illegitimate labelling, and the subsequent discrimination, oppression, and intimidation of the tribals can never be justified.

With regard to the Chief Minister mentioning that the militant outfits namely Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), and Kuki National Army (KNA) were involved in or otherwise influenced the rally, the KIM asserted that no such outfits were involved or otherwise no outfits influenced the rally.

With regard to the Chief Minister categorically stating that only illegal immigrants were participating in the rally, KIM stated that it is unpardonable and ill-suited of a Chief Minister and moreover, the Thadous are one of the tribes among the Kukis and to assert petty divisive politics with zero genealogical knowledge is arrogant and idiotic at its best.

With regards to the Chief Minister mentioning that the Government of Manipur will withdraw from the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with KNA and ZRA, KIM clarified that they have no connections to the rallies, rather it is presumable that the Chief Minister mentioned such to divert the real issue of the tribals' dissent against his alleged authoritarian governance.

Condemning the alleged imprudence and arrogance of the Chief Minister and his Government, KIM stated that the unlawful imposition of CrPC Section 144 and the forceful suppression of the citizens' right to hold peaceful demonstrations is dictatorial and called for the strongest retaliation.

KIM rather accused that it is the lawlessness of the State administration, its communal bias, and arbitrary and discriminatory approaches that hinder peace and tranquillity in the State and such 'gundaraj' governance must end in the State.

Decrying the ugly scenario that unfolded at Kangpokpi on March 10, the KSO Ghqs has, meanwhile, blamed the alleged high handedness of the district police for inflicting injuries to many and breach of law & order, which was really uncalled for.

It could be avoided had the district administration respected and upheld the fundamental rights of the people to assemble; to register their grievances to the Government through rallies and dharnas, it said.

It urged the concerned authorities to take up necessary action against those police personnel involved in the incident in public interest.

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