Imphal, January 16 2009: Asking the political leaders not to play with the sentiments of the people, editor of Naharolgee Thoudang Khoirom Loyalakpa has stated that public should boycott the political leaders and elected MLAs who do not understand the aspiration of the people.

Speaking as resource person at the ongoing hunger relay strike being organised by Sharmila Kanba Lup since December 10 at PDA Complex, Porompat today, Loyalakpa said that public could see through the double-standard conduct of the political parties in visiting Sharmila at the security ward of JN Hospital where she has been continuing her fast unto death agitation for the last 8 years now.

It has been for the last many years that the people of Manipur as a whole as been demanding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State and in this regard womenfolk have launched nude protest in front of the western gate of Kangla, Chittaranjan had committed self-immolation and Sharmila has been continuing her fast for more than 8 years.

When these political leaders and the elected MLAs have been keeping quiet all these years, then how could the public trust their words.

Recalling that the Prime Minister of India himself had described Armed Forces Special Powers Act as 'draconian' and the Jeevan Reddy Commission which had been constituted to review the provisions of th Act had recommended to the Government of India to repeal the Act, Loyalakpa stated categorically regardless of all these the political leaders in Manipur do not want to withdraw the Act as a political ploy.

Questioning why the MPs from Manipur cannot take up the recommendation of the Jeevan Reddy Commission for debate in the Parliament, he said that the people of Manipur is today fully aware of the 'real culprits' behind the occurrence of crimes in the society.

He also decried inactiveness of the Opposition parties in the State to take a firm stand on the issue.

On the 38th day of the hunger relay strike today, members of Chingmeirong CADA Unit, Nongchup Sanjenbam CADA unit and Lei-Ingkhol CADA Unit carried forward the strike.

Social activist S Momon also spoke as resource person at the occasion.

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