People's Democracy

Hundreds of CPI(M) activists held a sit-in-protest demonstration on June 13^th at the historic roadside near the Kangla Moat in the centre of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur. They demanded immediate dissolution of the state assembly and holding of fresh elections. The dharna was the first of its kind in the state after the promulgation of the Presidents rule in the state on June 2, 2001. The dharna was led by the CPI(M) state secretary Meitram Shamu, secretariat member Kshetrimayum Santa, Sarat Salam, AIDWA vice president Asen Bindoni and others.

Speakers addressing the dharna strongly condemned the imposition of President's rule by the BJP led NDA government in the state after keeping the state assembly in suspended animation. They felt only holding of fresh elections would be a solution as the present assembly had become totally non-functional. They charged BJP and Samata party leadership of hatching a game plan to form a state government before the coming monsoon session of parliament by shamelessly resorting to further horse-trading.

The state government did not give permission to the CPI(M) to hold the dharna. State secretary of the party Meitram Shahu, while addressing the dharna, condemned the flouting of the democratic norms and principles enshrined in the constitution of India by denial of permission to hold the peaceful dharna. Despite the denial of the permission the CPI(M) cadres asserted the democratic right by holding the dharna at the right time and the announced place. The demonstrators were later arrested and detained in the police custody.

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