Imphal, August 22: Piling up the heat on the SPF Government, the All Political Parties Forum has today accused the State Govern- ment and the Centre of shying away from convening a special session of the State Assembly so that the demand for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act may be discussed threadbare.

This proves beyond doubt that the State Govt and the Centre do not want to lift the said Act, they charged.

Speaking to newsmen at the Manipur Press Club today, MPP president and MLA O Joy said that it would be in the fitness of things for the SPF Govt to first face the situation here and present the picture to the Centre later.

Strongly condemning the act of booking the arrested agitators under the National Security Act, O Joy questioned why the Opposition members are not booked under the same Act as they have also raised the demand for revocation of the draconian Act, which is nothing but a remnant of the British colonial rule.

Arresting and harassing the people will not bring any solution to the crisis at hand, said Joy and demanded that the NSA slapped on the detainees be immediately withdrawn.

The MLA also appealed to the people to go ahead with the agitation peacefully and democratically.

Strongly rejecting the charges that the current movement is being instigated by underground organisations, Joy said this is nothing but an attempt by the Government to cast the agitation in the wrong light.

He also questioned why the AFSPA should be enforced in Manipur while the rest of the country, which has borne the brunt of terrorist attacks are not covered by this Act.

It would be a gross error of judgement, if the Centre acts only according to the reports filed by the military and ignore the wishes and aspirations of the people, said Joy and demanded that either the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister personally come here to assess the situation.

On the unconditional talks offered by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Joy said the talks offer is not clear and added that Patil did not spell out any programmes for any talks to fructify.

If the Centre is really keen on a talk, then it should announce a unilateral cease fire first, he observed.

Convenor of the Forum, Dr L Chandramani said that their demand is nothing short of fitting punishment of the AR personnel responsible for killing Th Manorama in custody and Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai and revocation of AFSPA.

A political solution is needed for the Act to be lifted not only from Manipur but also from the entire North East States, he observed.

Chandramani said that the Opposition has already made it known to the Government that it will extend all its co-operation in lifting the Disturbed Area Act from the State and questioned, why the Govt is so unwilling to convene the Assembly.

The offer that the Act will be lifted only when peace prevails is conditional, said Chandramani and asked how long the people will have to wait.

On the demand that all the 59 MLAs should resign within four days time, Chandramani explained that the position of the Opposition and the ruling MLAs are different and added that if the ruling MLAs set such an ultimatum, then the Centre will surely take note of the true situation here.

The Opposition MLAs have already made their stand clear, he said and added that it is for the Govt to summon the Assembly and not the responsibility of the Opposition MLAs.

A memorandum each have been submitted to the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Speaker to convene the Assembly, said Chandramani and added that till date there has been no response from their side.

BJP MLA M Bhorot, TNC State president S Tiken and DRPP working president RK Anand were also present at the press conference.

They said that the Central leaders have been urged to debate the issue on the floor of the Parliament.

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