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Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday, 24 December, justified the National Security Act (NSA)‘s detention of Manipur journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem, who had been arrested for criticising the CM, by saying that even though all citizens had a “right to criticise,” they shouldn’t forget the “restrictions” to this effect.
“Justified or not, that will be work of court. NSA, which detained him, is re-examined by an independent board. It's a democratic country, we've right to criticise but we shouldn't forget there are also some restrictions,” Singh added.
Singh’s comments come after Wangkhem on Saturday, 22 December, had urged the people from his state to "wake up."
“I strongly denounce my detention under National Security Act. This is dictatorial rule. I appeal to the people of Manipur to wake up. I will fight till the time NSA is revoked and I’m released,” Wangkhem had said then, ANI reported.
Wangkhem’s statement was made to reporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) Hospital, where he has been brought in for a routine medical check up, reported The Indian Express.
According to The Indian Express, Wangkhem had said:
According to ANI, he further said that he is "not surprised" at the silence of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU).
Previously, on Friday, NDTV had reported that the Manipur High Court has asked the state and the central governments to give counter-affidavits against the petition filed by Wangkhem, challenging his detention against NSA.
Kishorchandra Wangkhem's wife Ranjita told NDTV:
NDTV also reported that Kishorchandra Wangkhem's lawyer claimed that the jail authoritues are not allowing his wife to meet him.
Kishorechandra Wangkhem, who was detained last month under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), will remain in custody for 12 months, according to a Manipur government order which said his activities were "prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order", PTI reported.
Wangkhem was taken into custody for allegedly “targeting” the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, PM Modi and the BJP in a social media post.
Wangkhem in the videos purportedly said he was shocked to learn that the present BJP Manipur government was observing the birth anniversary of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. He reportedly said Rani of Jhansi's deeds had nothing to do with Manipur and the state was observing her birth anniversary because the Centre had asked it to.
The videos which he had uploaded on 19 November in both English and Meitei were not related to his official work, officials had said.
According to a state home department statement issued on 14 December, the Advisory Board of the NSA, in its sitting held on 11 December, had examined the allegations levelled against Wangkhem.
On 13 December, the board recommended that there were "sufficient grounds" to detain Wangkhem under the provisions of the NSA, the statement said, without elaborating on the allegations against him .
Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla has approved the advisory board's recommendation on detention of the journalist under the NSA, according to the statement.
In consonance with the opinion of the Board and exercise of power under Section 12 (1), the Governor has, therefore, ordered that his detention will be for a period of 12 months, it said.
According to the provision, in any case where the Advisory Board has reported that there is, in its opinion, sufficient cause for the detention of a person, the government may confirm the detention order and continue the detention of the person concerned for such period as it thinks fit.
Under section 13 of the Act, the maximum period of detention under the NSA is 12 months.
(With inputs from PTI)
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