Imphal, November 21: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has put pressure on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for fulfilling the public demand for lifting Armed Forces Special Powers Act and safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur.

In a representation presented to the Prime Minister during his maiden visit to the State yesterday, the State Congress unit observed that the recent social turmoil leading to month-long bandhs and blockades by various social organisations, students and womenfolk clearly indicated that failure of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in controlling the insurgency problems in the State.

To control the misuse of the Act by the security personnel and also to provide healing touch to the emotionally hurt people, the Act needs to be removed, the representation said.

With regard to protection of territorial integrity of the State, the representation made it clear that the ongoing peace talks between the Naga militants and the Government of India should not give a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur.

The representation also reminded the commitment made by the coalition UPA Government in its common minimum programme to protect and safeguard the territorial integrity of the States in the North East.

In view of slow pace of developmental growth in the State due to its topographical features, the representation called for improvement of the existing National Highways No 39, 53 and 150 and for supplementing land transport system with opening up of an Air cargo flight from Guwahati to Imphal.

To accelerate foreign trades with other Asian countries, a Trans-Asian International Highway passing though the capital city and the border town at Moreh has become the need of the hour, the representation noted, while requesting extension of the Rail head upto Imphal.

The representation also put thrust on setting up more industries, developing tourism and its related paraphernalia like ecology and environment, implementation of Loktak Down Stream project, upgradation of Imphal city, increase in the number of trade items under Indo-Myanmar trade agreement, equal and rational distribution of plan allocation and Central assistance, besides setting up a Backward States Grant Fund for speedy development of the land-locked State at par with other Indian States.

PM urged for financial aid: INA Martyrs� Memorial Advisory Committee has urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for extending financial assistance towards construction of the proposed Netaji Memorial Sports Complex at Chenglei Pologround, just adjacent to the INA head Quarter at Moirang.

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister during his visit to the State yesterday, the Committee prayed or sanctioning a sum of Rs 5.50 crores for construction of the sports complex which had also been technically approved by the State Government.

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