Imphal, November 22: India Government has no intention of repealing and lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from Manipur and it was evident from the words spoken by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his just concluded visit, convenor of Opposition Political Parties' Forum Dr L Chandramani said today.

Talking to media persons at the Babupara residential quarters of MLA L Tomba, Dr Chandramani, who is also the president of Federal Party of Manipur asserted that lack of seriousness on the part of UPA Government at the Centre with regard to the public demand for removal of the Act was quite evident from the words spoken by the Prime Minister.

Leaders of the Forum met the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan and presented a 15-point memorandum and demanded that Parliament discuss the issue of repealing the Act in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

But it is evidently clear from the words spoken by the Prime Minister that the Centre took the matter very lightly, he said.

MPP president O Joy said although the visit of the Prime Minister was a historic one, it should not be assumed that he has understood Manipur fully and the aspiration of its people clearly.

Nevertheless, it was appreciated and can be regarded as a first step towards understanding Manipur.

DRPP vice president RK Anand doubted the seriousness of the Prime Minister in coming to the State to understand the problems being faced by the people.

The very fact that the Prime Minister stuck to his earlier point, which was non committal on repealing the Act, only shows that there is no intention of removing the Act from Manipur at all.

It seems the Prime Minister did not fully comprehend the draconian provisions given in the Act, Anand stated.

The seriousness of the issue was also belittled by the Prime Minister when he said the Act promulgated specially for the North Eastern States was an all-India Act, said Anand and objected the decision of the Centre to constitute the five member team to review the Act while maintaining a stoic silence on revoking the Act review the Act without ever talking of repealing it.

As the Government of India has no intention of fulfilling the demand of the people for repealing the draconian Act, there is nothing much to feel grateful from handing over Kangla to the people, he added.

However, leader of Federal Legislature Party M Nilachandra Singh said although the Forum welcomed the visit of the Prime Minister and felt grateful for the act of handing over Kangla to the people, conversion of Manipur University into a Central University and laying the foundation stone for Jiribam-Tupul rail line, it would have been appreciated more if the Gauhati High Court at Imphal was declared a full-fledged Court of the State.

The State Government should have paid due attention in this regard, he observed.

MPP president Joy also disclosed that a memorandum had been submitted to the Prime Minister high-lighting the plight of the people who have been left homeless after eviction drive conducted by the State Government around MU.

Comment