Imphal, January 03: Demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 and scrapping of the Tipaimukh Project, various public meetings are being held at different places of the State.

Many such public meetings on AFSPA and Tipaimukh Project held under the aegis of the United People's Front (UPF) Manipur at different places of Thoubal and Bishnupur districts have resolved to urge for immediate repeal of the infamous Act and scrapping of the controversial Tipaimukh Project.

A similar public meeting on the same topics was held today at Charangpat Mamang Leikai Awang Kangjeibung community hall with treasurer of Women Welfare Association Meisnam Ibemhal, secretary of Thokchom Meira Paibis Ksh Thaja and secretary of Bengi Meira Paibis Chongtham Memton as presidium members.

Speaking at the meeting as a resource person, executive member of Citizens Concern For Dams and Development Salam Rajesh asserted that even as the Union Government conceived the Tipaimukh Project way back in 1954, the Union Government is refusing to publish the project report till date .Maintaining that the demerits of the Project far outweigh the merits as far as the State of Manipur concerned even though it may control devastating floods in Assam, Rajesh said that the State Government was still unwilling to hold a public discussion programme thereby denying the rights of the people to deliberate on the pros and cons of the project.

He further disclosed that NEEPCO had intimated the State Government of its inability to provide 12 percent of the power produced citing increment in the Project cost.

Taking part in the public meeting, programme executive of Human Rights Alert Jenine Meitei remarked that AFSPA was imposed to facilitate implementation of some ulterior schemes and not to contain insurgency movement.

Sensing something amiss behind the reluctance of the Union Government to repeal AFSPA even as the Prime Minister had acknowledged the inhuman clauses of the Act, Jenine reminded that the same Act was once resorted to by the British imperialists to repress the Indians.

After deliberating at length on the two issues, the meeting resolved to launch movements of all kinds so that the MoU signed between the State Government and NEEPCO for construction of Tipaimukh Project is rescinded and the AFSPA repealed immediately.

Such public meetings on Tipaimukh Project and AFSPA were also held under the aegis of UPF at Arong, Tokpa Ching, Wangoo and Thoubal Bazar.

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