Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 03:
The on going public agitation for complete removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State is justified as such draconian laws threaten the very existence of a civilised society, asserted BJP National vice president Tawar Chand Gehlot.
Speaking at the one day State level leaders political conference at Amumacha Mandop Yumnam Leikai today, Gehlot who is on a two visit to the State, said that people of the North East region have suffered too much under the AFSPA as security forces have been unleashing a reign of terror under the immunity granted by the Act.
Informing that the BJP would surely take up the issue of complete removal of AFSPA from Manipur in the Parliament, Gehlot questioned why the UPF Govt was reluctant to lift AFSPA from Manipur when it was ready to repeal the dreaded POTA from other States and further said that developmental projects have taken the back seat and economic conditions of the country have deteriorated considerably since the coming of the Congress led UPF Govt at the Centre.
BJP National secretary M Bhorot who also spoke said that the State Govt should hold talks with the Central Govt and repeal the AFSPA immediately if the State Govt is really sincere in ending the ongoing public agitation for the removal of the Act.
He also accused the Chief Minister of not willing to lift AFSPA from the State as withdrawing it from the State would mean withdrawing the financial assistance given by the Central Govt for countering insurgency movement in the State.
Asserting that BJP and the Congress are the two most important political parties in the present political scenario of the country, M Bhorot urged all the BJP worker at the grass root level to work sincerely and help in strengthening the party.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, State BJP unit president Th Chaoba said that Congress is a party without any vision or aim.