Imphal, April 09 2009: Launching an offensive against the Opposition on vital issues besetting the State, the Congress today asserted that there is no threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur while reminding the people that it is the Congress which has lifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from seven Assembly segments in the Imphal Mucnicipality area.

Addressing a huge gathering on a flag hosting ceremony of Congress's candidate and sitting MP ,Th Meinya Singh for the Inner seat near his Khumbong residence in greater Imphal today, MPCC president Gaikhangam in an obvious attempt to blunt the slogans of the other candidates, claimed that there is no threat at all to Manipur's territorial integrity.

"The Opposition parties are shouting without any basis and their beratings have triggered the suspense.

"This is not an issue.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi has already announced that Manipur's boundaries will not be changed.

The millennium old Manipur's peaceful co-existence and territorial boundaries will not be compromised by any force," Gakhangam added.

The MPPC president also appealed to the public not to be taken in by the propaganda of the Opposition candidates and their respective parties.

"As long as world survives, Manipur will remain intact," Gaikhangam asserted.

The Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency will go to the poll on April 22, while the Outer constituency for which the Congress has fielded former minister Thangso Baite, will vote on April 16 .

Talking along the same vein Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh fired salvos at Th Chaoba Singh and said it was during his Union Ministership's tenure under the NDA regime that the Government announced the extension of Centre-NSCN �IM ceasefire without territorial limits in 2001, following the Bangkok Declaration.

"During his (Chaoba) five year tenure as Union Minister, he did not attempt to lift AFSPA from Manipur nor did he shift Assam Rifles from Kangla, connect rail line within Manipur, convert Manipur University to a Central University.

But we have done all that" the Chief Minister claimed.

On the issue of AFSPA , the Chief Minister said that the SPF Govt has already withdrawn the Act from seven assembly segments of Imphal municipal area while the Oppposition did not even attempt to lift it during their tenure in the earlier Govt."We don't want this act to continue even for a second in Manipur but the grave law and order situation has compelled us to continue with it.

When killings, extortions, intimidations, kidnappings, attacks on VIPs, officials, Ministers and businessmen etc have become a regular feature, the Act has to be enforced here," said the Chief Minister.

The Act will go automatically when Manipur regains peace, he said while urging the people to reject the unfounded allegations raised by the Opposition.

Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and a number of Congress legislators also categorically spelt out the achievements of the Congress led UPA and SPF Government.

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