Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22:
The proposed visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh scheduled for late November is unlikely to materialize in case consensus eludes the forthcoming talks between the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup and the Centre over Armed Forces special Powers Act 1958.According to a reliable source, in case the proposed talks fail to break the deadlock over removal of AFSPA the State is most likely to witness another phase of agitation in the midst of which the Prime Minister might prefer to cancel the Manipur visit tentatively fixed for last week of November month.
With the Prime Minister scheduled to flag-off the first ever India-Asean Car Rally from Guwahati on November 22, the source in- formed of the State authorities making hectic effort to convince Dr Manmohan Singh extend his visit till Manipur where a busy schedule of laying foundation stone for various projects await.
The State Government had urged the PM to make the visit either on November 22 or 23, said the source while adding that till date no confirmation has been received from the PMO on the invitation.
On the other hand, coordinator of Apunba Lup Jadumani today informed of the agitation spearhead likely to call on the PM at New Delhi on October 30.Addressing a two day meet at MDU Hall organized to discuss on varied issue in connection with the Lup-centre talks on AFSPA, Jadumani said the Apunba Lup�s demand for removal of AFSPA is not only from Manipur but for permanent scrapping of the repressive act.
Elaborating on the matter, he said as there is still possibility of security personnel misusing the Act and execute innocent civilians the Lup is now pursuing scrapping of the Act wherever applicable.
Following widespread agitation of the people to demand withdrawal of the Act the State authorities had decided to remove Disturbed Area Status from within Municipal areas, Jadumani recalled.
He also asserted that as the people could not be pacified by the partial removal concerted agitation finally prompted the Centre to invite the Lup to hold parleys on the issue with the intervention of Governor on the matter.
On rejecting Manipur Govt�s invitation for talks on the AFSPA, Jadumani, who is also the president of UPF said as the State had made its position clear of being unable to amend the Act adopted by the parliament decision to hold direct talk with the Central Government was taken.
With the Governor acting as the mediator to solve the impasse the Centre finally extended invitation to the Lup, he maintained.
Describing Union Home Minister Shivraj patil as insensitive to the pulse of the Manipur people, Jadumani said the Lup delegates would never meet or hold talk with the Union Minister.
The Lup also firmly believes that the Manipur Governor will ensure the proposed meet is held at the level of Prime Minister, he expressed.
Jadumani also expressed that Governor SS Sidhu should oblige to the talks pre-condition of releasing all agitators detained under AFSPA to facilitate smooth conduct of the negotiation.