Ten Opposition political parties in Manipur on Monday vehemently condemned the arrest of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) students in connection with a democratic rally and submission of memorandum to the Governor of Manipur on October 13, terming the arrest as undemocratic, unconstitutional and dictatorial act of the state government.
Speaking to the media on Monday at Manipur Press Club, former minister Nimaichand Luwang said that the present crisis in the state will be over and peace will return in the state only when the present BJP government is not in power in the state and present chief minister of the state Nongthombam Biren is removed.
“As long as BJP is in power in both the state and the Centre, there will be no peace in Manipur. This will happen in 2024 after the Lok Sabha Polls, wherein the BJP will no longer be in power in the Centre,” he said.
The present conflict, unrest, demands for separate administration and statehood will be resolved only when the BJP is not in power, he asserted. The demand for Separate Administration and statehood is a gift of the present BJP government with CM N Biren of the state being just a mute spectator, he claimed.
The rally to submit a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur on October 13 was a peaceful one and there was a minor scuffle, which usually happens in such rallies and there was no violence, he said. Under the present government, there can be no democratic movement as 6 Congress supporters who were present in the rally were pursued by the Police, arrested and FIR registered, he added.
“I cannot say that police were not cooperative during the rally; they were cooperative and even allowed the peace rally to be carried out but a minor scuffle happened at the stretch from from Congress Bhawan to M Sector but that was resolved,” Nimaichand said.
Afterwards, the rallyists were blocked at M Sector and representatives of 10 political parties along with former CM Ibobi went in for submitting the memorandum, he mentioned.
After that, on October 14 there was information of arresting six NSUI students under an FIR and they were remanded into police custody till October 18, he said.
CPI former secretary Sotinkumar said that the arrest of NSUI students is a reprisal of demanding resignation of CM Biren by 10 political parties. The rally was participated by former leaders, but they were not arrested. It is not a time for reprisal, he said.
“It is time to find out the root cause of the violence. It is time for conducting an assembly session for discussion of bringing peace in Manipur and protection of territorial integrity of Manipur,” Sotinkumar said.
Not only 10 political parties, others also asked to resign from CM’s post, as the CM is unable to maintain law and order in Manipur, Sotinkumar said. “Hiring supporters for tearing resignation papers in highly sensitive zones - that drama is not enough,” he added.
There will be a wide campaign in block to district level for solving issues in Manipur and for bringing peace, he added.
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Hareshwar Goswami informed that there was scuffle between police and some people who were participating in the rally. That took place due to a City police station OC tried to push back the people. But that was unprecedented.
“There are three laws in Manipur, one for hill, another for valley and within valley one for BJP supporters and another for those who do not support the BJP,” he said.
There will be protests demanding their release, he said, urging support from the general public. The press meet was attended by Samuel Jendai, Janata Dal United and Kshetrimayum Shanta, Coordinator and Convenor of 10 Opposition Political Parties of Manipur.
