Imphal, January 13: Endorsing the people's demand for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from the entire State, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders today pledged its commitment to support the peoples' cause.

Interacting with mediapersons at the Old Lambulane office of the State BJP, its National Vice President Thawarchand Gehlot charged the security force personnel of misusing power granted by the AFSPA and added that rather than subduing the underground movement in the State the uniformed men are turning their ire towards innocent civilians.

As the security force-civilian relationship is severely strained due to continued excesses committed by the uniformed men, removal of the repressive Act has become essential to prevent atrocities and avoid further alienation of the people, stated the BJP leader who is also an MP.

He also conveyed of having written to the Prime Minister on the AFSPA issue to which Dr Manmohan Singh informed the BJP MP that Manipur situation is being periodically updated and process set into motion for amicable settlement to the problem besetting the State.

Attacking the Congress-led UPA Government for its economic policy, Gehlot said compared to the then NDA Govt which ensured economic stability and controlled price rise, essential commodities including fuel prices have sky-rocketed ever since the UPA Govt came to power.

To highlight the anti-people policy of the UPA Government frequent conduct of political awareness camp has become indispensable, observed the BJP leader.

Party's National General Secretary Tapir Goan (MP), who is in-charge of Manipur State cast suspicion at the attitude of UPA Government in handling the North East issues especially on imposition of AFSPA.

The Arunachal Pradesh MP questioned why the Centre is reluctant to scrap the draconian Act, which empowers the security force to eliminate any body on grounds of suspicion, from the region.

Asserting that Tapir himself had raised the AFSPA issue on the floor of the Parliament, he ridiculed the Centre's prompt action to oust POTA and dilly-dallying mass demand for removal of AFSPA.

The MP also castigated the1 State Government for lack of commitment on the AFSPA issue and unjustifiable transfer of the Police OC who was i charge of preliminary investigation of the Manorama Devi case.

Rampant corruption in the State resulting in waste of financial assistance extended by successive Central Government also came under sharp criticism from the MP who desired devising a mechanism to make the people aware of development schemes and funding.

State BJP leaders including the President Th Chaoba, MLA RK Dorendra and M Bhorot and former Speaker H Borobabu were also present at the press briefing.

Chaoba informed of the party having chalked out measures to spread awareness of malpractices by organising leadership training programmes at the hill districts of Ukhrul, Senapati and Churachandpur within this month.

Barely 25 percent of the financial assistance pumped into the State under various development projects could be enjoyed by the people, the former MP said.

He also alleged that inspite of Rs 8 crores released for development of hill area roads neither could amount be ac-counted for nor is there any sign of positive changes in the road conditions.

To a question of why the NDA had not taken the initiatives to repeal AFSPA, BJP Legislature party leader RK Dorendra said when LK Advani was the Home Minister the law and order situation of Manipur was not as worse as it is today.

Advani was of the view that removal of the Act at that time could create immediate vacuum in the law and order situation, maintained the State BJP Legislature leader.

Nevertheless, with the UPA Govt deciding to scrap POTA, LK Advani is speculating why not the same procedure for removal of AFSPA from Manipur, the former CM conveyed.

He also assured that the BJP will support any move to either repeal or rectify draconian nature of the Act.

Th Chaoba also handed over Rs 15,000 in the form of bank draft to Thawarchand Gehlot as party fund out of Rs 61,000 collected from the party members.

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