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.
“In this case I can tolerate criticism but not humiliation of my leaders. He was abusing as well as humiliating the national heroes like Rani of Jhansi and PM Modi, which is totally beyond freedom of expression.”CM Biren Singh to ANI
“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:
“The allegations leveled against me are baseless, they are trying to stop me from raising my voice against the government. I will fight till my last breath at the High Court or the Supreme Court to get justice.”
According to ANI, he further said that he is "not surprised" at the silence of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU).
“I am not surprised at the silence maintained by All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU). It is bought by the state government. I hope the Indian Journalists Union comes down heavily on 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:
“NSA can’t be slapped against him. Markandey Katju told us that our fundamental rights are being violated. We have prayed for earliest possible release.”
NDTV also reported that Kishorchandra Wangkhem's lawyer claimed that the jail authoritues are not allowing his wife to meet him.
The Context
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.
The District Magistrate of Imphal West had ordered detention of 39-year-old Wangkhem on 27 November after he uploaded videos criticising the BJP-led governments in Manipur and the Centre for observing Rani Jhansi’s birth anniversary.
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.
In this context, he allegedly called Biren Singh a “puppet of the Centre” and a “puppet of Hindutva”.
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.
The Detention
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.
“The Governor of Manipur after considering the proximate past activities of the detenu and potential danger of his activities which are prejudicial to the security of the State and maintenance of public order and there is apprehension of his continuing to act in similar prejudicial activities, the moment he is released from detention, the said person should be detained for the maximum period of 12 months as provided under Section 13 of the said Act,” the statement said.
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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