- NET Web Desk
A conglomerate of Manipur-based militant outfits, the Coordinating Committee (CorCom) has called-for a 17-hour shutdown in the state on January 4 to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
The Publicity committee of CorCom on Sunday issued a statement, announcing its decision to boycott PM’s visit on Tuesday, by imposing a total shut down from 1 AM on January 4 till the departure of the PM.
Signed by its media coordinator M Sak-hen, the release stated that medical activities, emergency cases etc. will be exempted from the purview of this total shutdown.
As a matter of fact, Modi’s visit is related to Manipur Assembly elections scheduled for early 2022. The visit is just a smoke-screen and a weapon to mislead the international community with claims of India being the world’s largest electoral democracy, said CorCom.
Besides, CorCom also accused India of occupying a position at the United Nations by claiming to be a true democracy.
Resorting to lies and deceit, India has in recent times managed to reserve a seat as a Non-Permanent membership at United Nations Security Council securing the positions of chairpersons of three sub-committees. India is a country that does not recognise the right to self-determination and does not respect independence, added CorCom.
CorCom said that under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Jammu and Kashmir had a special status. However, India bifurcated the state and turned Kashmir into a Union Territory. In the history of India, this is the first instance of how a state can be demoted into a union territory.
The umbrella group also pointed out that Manipur had its own constitution and a legislature with elected members. However, India broke all the democratic rules and convention and annexed Manipur. Manipur was kept at a lower stature as compared to all the rest of the states in India.
In January 21, 1972, India conferred the status of a state to Manipur only for namesake. This act of India also showed that it fails to acknowledge the value of independence. India imposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in WESEA including Manipur except for Tripura and Meghalaya. Since the imposition of this act, many revolutionaries have sacrificed their lives. Instead of facing the armed revolutionaries, Indian occupying forces have harassed and killed many innocent people including women and children. The recent Oting killing in Nagaland is a fine example of how innocent people are being punished. Till now no action has been taken against the culprits and they are being shield by India, claimed CorCom.
After the Oting incident, the people of WESEA have voiced their demand on removal of AFSPA from the region. While the people were expecting the removal of AFSPA from Nagaland, the government of India took a U-turn and imposed AFSPA for another six months ignoring the voices of the people. This means there will be more atrocities committed on the people now, said the statement.
CorCom also referred to the extra-judicial killing of 1528 persons and the case pending in the Supreme Court of India. The group said that the case could not be further pursued as prosecution sanction against all the erring security forces have not been granted.
The government of Manipur is also yet to press the government of India to grant prosecution sanction. Even if there is not public declaration on the total absence of civil administration in Manipur, it is crystal clear that there is “martial law” or “military rule” in the state. Many political parties in Manipur also use the AFSPA as a poll-plank and propaganda during election time, said CorCom.
