Imphal, August 01: With the deadline set by the Opposition parties to revoke the Disturbed Area Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act expiring yesterday, the DPA has chalked out a new course of strategy to put the heat on the Govt and a new body christened the Political Party Forum has been floated towards this end.

The Forum was floated after the end of a marathon meeting held at the Babupara quarters of MPP MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang from 9 am till 1 pm today.

All seven political parties, which are not part of the SPF took part in the deliberations.

FPM president and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Chandramani was appointed the convenor of the Forum and the newly floated body will seek to draw the attention of the Centre to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Manipur.

Representatives of the FPM, BJP, MPP, MNC, DRPP, TNCP and JD (U) attended the meeting.

Prominent among those who attended were former Chief Ministers RK Ranbir, RK Dorendra, Radhabinod Koijam and W Nipamacha.

Former MP and State unit chief of the BJP, Th Chaoba, president of the TNCP S Tiken, JD (U) president S Lohrii, DRPP working president S Anand and other Opposition MLAs also attended.

Strongly criticizing the SPF Government for failing to heed the sentiments of the people, the meeting took serious note of the inaction of the Govt even though the deadline set by the Opp to lift the AFSPA expired yesterday.

The meeting unanimously agreed to further pursue the demand in a democratic manner.

As agreed during the meeting, the Opposition will submit a memorandum to Governor Arvind Dave tomorrow to press home the demand for lifting the said Act.

A memorandum will also be submitted to Speaker TN Haokip to urge him to convene an emergency session of the Assembly so that the matter may be discussed on the floor of the House.

The meeting also came down heavily on the delaying tactics adopted by the Government in setting August 15 as the deadline for taking a definite decision on the revocation or otherwise of the AFSPA.

Later speaking to newsmen after the meeting, FPM MLA S Ibohal said that though the State is in a volatile situation, the Governor, Chief Minister and the Speaker are all out of station.

This is highly unfortunate, he noted.

The absence of these personalities mean that the there are no administrative heads in the State during this tumultuous period, said Ibohal and noted that the CM-in-charge Th Debendra will not be in a position to take vital decisions if the situation demands.

Likewise, the post of the Deputy Speaker is not clear following the resignation L Lala earlier, he added.

The FPM MLA further said that strategies were charted out during today's meeting on how to go about with the demand to lift the said Act from the State.

If the Govt persists with the said Act, then the Opposition MLAs too may resign enmasse from the Assembly, he informed.

The Political Party Forum welcomes the democratic movements launched by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, a joint body of 32 organizations, said Ibohal and appealed to all to desist from violence in pursuance of the demand to revoke the AFSPA.

Comment