Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, August 02:
The Government tonight reviewed the situation in Manipur and asked the Home Ministry to take "appropriate decision" in the backdrop of the ongoing agitation there demanding withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
"We have asked the Home Ministry to take appropriate decision.
Details will be worked out in consultation with Manipur Chief Minister (Ibobi Singh)", Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The meeting comes in the wake of weeks of agitations in Manipur to protest the rape and killing of a 30-year old woman allegedly by Assam Rifles personnel.
The protestors, who have alleged that the woman was killed while in custody of the Assam Rifles, have been demanding withdrawal of the Act which has been in force there for the last 27 years.
Asked if the demand for withdrawal of the Act figured in the discussion, Mukherjee said "we reviewed the situation prevailing in Manipur in all its aspects".
On the deadline of August 15 set by the protesters for withdrawal of the Act, he said "somebody may give the deadline of August 15 or September 15.Government will act as per its own perceptions".
He said the details of the steps to be taken by the Home Ministry would be worked out in consultation with the Chief Minister.
Mukherjee said the Chief Minister would be meeting the Prime Minister and the Home Minister as part of the consultation process.
Among others who attended the meeting were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and HRD Minister Arjun Singh.