KALPETTA: It’s not just LDF workers who are pouring all their energy into the campaign of their candidate Annie Raja in Wayanad. Kuki community activist in Manipur, Glady Vaiphei Hunjan, and several victims of the police brutality that unfolded in Sathyamangalam forests over the manhunt for bandit Veerappan are also on Annie’s campaign trail as a show of support to the CPI leader who, they say, helped them in their fight for justice.
The LDF’s campaign in Wayanad has been focusing on Annie’s pan India-level political activities and her fights and protests across the country.
Glady, who has been in Wayanad for the past three days, speaks highly of the support extended by the people of Kerala during the Manipur riots and how the Left parties are raising their voice against the human rights violations faced by the marginalised people.
“This is the first time I’m coming to Kerala, and the primary reason for my visit is Annie Raja and the state’s immense support to the Kuki community in Manipur. I come from a place where our people can’t even think of an election now. But after seeing the spirit of election campaigns in Wayanad which resembles my hometown, I could feel the strength of democracy once again,” said Glady, who is also the vice-president of Manipur Unau Tribal Women’s Forum.
“Members of the Kuki-Zo community have been murdered, displaced and looted in the state-sponsored violence in Manipur for the past year. Our documents, properties, assets, everything has gone. Many are still living in relief camps. How can we think of an election right now? That’s why we have decided to refrain from the polling this time,” said Glady.
‘Annie Raja supported us in our fight for justice’
“Annie Raja has been supporting us in our fight against the human rights violations and I decided to support her in the elections,” said Glady.
During the past few days, several people from the scheduled tribe community in Sathyamangalam forests have also been campaigning for Annie in the constituency. The group included Chinnammal, Murukeshan, Chinna Kolunth, Nallamma, Ponnarasi, Periyathai and Sarasu from Mettur in Salem district. They had reportedly faced torture at the hands of the joint task force entrusted by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments to nab Veerappan. Three of them had served nine-year jail term as well.
“We didn’t know how to approach the judiciary, as we were tortured by the police system itself. Then we sought help from Annie Raja, whom we met during a public meeting in Madurai. She upported us in our agitations to get justice,” said Chinnammal.
According to them, it was Annie who took the victims to Delhi to meet the then prime minister Manmohan Singh and the National Human Rights Commission chairman.
As a result, a full bench sitting of the commission was held to discuss the issues of the victims. Later, the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu announced compensation of `10 crore as per the report of the Sadashiva commission.
