Revoke AFSPA, release hostages , CPI demands

IMPHAL, Nov 15: The CPI has demanded release of the six women and children being held hostage by Kuki militants and revocation of AFSPA from the jurisdiction of six police station where the Act has been reimposed.
Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan here today, CPI Secretariat Member and Manipur in-charge comrade Pallab Sengupta said that the Government must see all the six people including infants who were abducted by Kuki militants on November 11 are released safely at the earliest.
Saying that the abduction of women and children was a clear act of terrorism, Pallab Sengupta asserted that such acts of terrorism do not happen ever again in any part of India.
The activities of these terrorists are too much. It was the Centre’s indifference which pushed the people of Manipur to such a miserable state, he said.
The CPI leader said that he was surprised by the Government of India’s decision to reimpose AFSPA in the jurisdictions of six police stations instead of exploring a political solution to the 18 months old crisis.
The way AFSPA has been reimposed in parts of Manipur without consulting the State Government only exposed that the Central Government has little respect for the State Government. It is a direct threat to the Constitution’s federal character, he said.
By reimposing AFSPA, the Government of India has been trying to contain the violent crisis militarily instead of exploring a political solution, comrade Pallab Sengupta said.
In his efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra visited the two Nations twice in a year but he has no time to visit Manipur even once, he pointed out.
CPI Manipur State Council leaders Dr M Nara and L Sotinkumar were also present at the press meet.