Cong launches hunger strike

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 16: Congress workers, led by MPCC vice president (and president in-charge) T Mangibabu, began a 5-day relay hunger strike in front of Congress Bhawan today demanding disclosure of the contents of the Frame-work Agreement as well as a special State Assembly session at the earliest.
Speaking on the sideline of the protest, which was participated by a large num-ber of Congress workers and MPCC office bearers, Mangibabu said that the suspicious nature and the failure to disclose the contents of the FA signed between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) has led to deep apprehension among the people and now, the Congress party cannot remain silent and has decided to launch a series of agitation demanding immediate disclosure of the contents to the public.
At a time when people are protesting all across the State, the coalition Government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh is adamantly appealing the people to remain calm based on the supposed assurance by the Central high command, which is very unfortunate and not very assuring, he claimed. Mangibabu said that the people of Manipur will not remain silent like fools just because the BJP leaders and the Union Home Minister appeal to or assure them with such promises.
Even when the State's integrity is not compromised, if the administrative set up of Manipur is affected, it might lead to the existence of a parallel Government. This will lead to many problems in the future. The Congress party will not back off its agitation until a clear cut arrangement is made public.
On the other hand, MPCC spokesperson and veteran politician Okram Joy said that it will be the right step to convene a special Assembly session at the earliest and adopt a concrete resolution looking after the tense atmosphere prevailing in the State in light of the Naga peace talks.
The Assembly is for the people and it is meant to take decisions which are based on the sentiments of the people.  The sole decisions of the BJP cannot be regarded as the decisions of the people, he explained.
Stating that the people are scared and apprehensive whether Manipur will be harmed by the Naga peace settlement, O Joy asked why the State Government is reluctant to call an Assembly session for discussing the fate of the State.
He further alleged that the Chief Minister is making various clarifications and statements in a bid to avoid calling an Assembly session. The muddled statements and clarifications of the Government have failed to please the people and the Congress party till date, he said, demanding an immediate State Assembly session.