Our demands are for Manipur, assert JACs

Imphal, September 29: Taking strong exception to the assertion of the people of Thoubal Leishangthem and Thoudam that they never took part in the people's movement, the Khurai JAC and the Lamshang JAC reminded that their demands are for the rights and welfare of all the people of Manipur.

A joint press release issued by the two JACs said that they were well aware of the divide and rule policy being allegedly played by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi against the people of Manipur.

Yet, the people of Manipur were cautious enough not to fall prey to such diabolic policy.

Apparently referring to the pamphlet distributed by some people of Thoubal Leishangthem and Thoudam yesterday, the JACs asked whether they could speak against the mass movement in case the tragedies befalling upon the families of Rabina and Sanjit fall on their own families.

"Should not they launch similar protest movements, if the victims belonged to Thoubal district and the Chief Minister happened to be someone from Khurai or Lamshang?", they questioned.

Questioning their capacity to distribute pamphlets at Imphal Bazar yesterday without any permission from Imphal West DC, Imphal East DC or Thoubal DC, the JACs said that some people would have been shot dead by police commandos belonging to Thoubal district in case any group belonging to other districts were distributing pamphlets.

As long as such attitude of the Government persists, development and progress would continue to remain out of sight, they asserted.

The JACs also condemned the gate-crashing and raiding the house of the Khurai JAC convenor by police commandos at about midnight of September 26 .

The state Government's treatment of the issue in such manner was nothing but stirring a hornet's nest.

Saying that they took serious note of some people openly belittling and challenging the mass movement though mass media, the JAC decried the alleged stepped-up activity of the Government to arrest protesters.

"The SPF Government should know that the people's movement cannot be suppressed even if the JAC convenors and all the members are put behind bars", they asserted.

It further alleged that the police and IRB personel recruited recently were not for protection of people but for guarding the relatives and family members of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

Chief Minister Ibobi may be very dear to the people of Thoubal district for the benefits and advantages provided by him but to the larger population of the state belonging to other districts, O Ibobi is the most unpopular Chief Minister, they added.