Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10:
Reiterating its demand for the complete revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today said that though it received an invitation from the Govt to talk things over, it rejected the overture as the Govt is yet to spell out a definite stand on the demands raised by the people.
In a statement issued to the press today, the Apunba Lup today said that instead of complying with the invitation of the Govt, it deputed two notable personalities to meet the Chief Minister to convey the message that nothing short of a complete revocation of the Act from Manipur would be accepted.
Reacting to the statement of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil that the Centre is ready to replace the Assam Rifles by some other force, the statement said that the demand of the people is not the shifting of the Assam Rifles but the revocation of the AFSPA.
The very statement of the Home Minister is akin to trying to hoodwink the people of Manipur, it added.
Appealing to the people to co-operate with the civil disobedience movement, the Lup asked all, including the Govt employees to block the gate of all Govt Depts and stop others from attending office.
The Apunba Lup is currently launching the Civil Disobedience Movement after mass court arrest protest.