Imphal, August 23: Acknowledging the demand of the people to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the entire State of Manipur, Chief Minister O Ibobi today said that though his Govt is aware of the wishes and aspirations of the people, the need for peace to return is of paramount importance and added that peace can come about only when the underground organizations steer away from the path of violence and not indulge in extortions and coercing the public.

In a statement issued to the press today, the Chief Minister said that his Government is fully committed to bringing peace to the State so that normalcy can return and the people can live a life without fear and intimidation.

The Chief Minister Said that his Government fully respects the democratic and peaceful agitation launched by the people, but added that it will not brook any anti-National activities and violence.

Elaborating, the Chief Minister said that burning of the Indian flag, misusing the precinct of educational institutions and polluting the academic atmosphere, torching Govt installations and offices and equipments, talking about referendum, boycotting goods manufactured in India, call for snapping ties with mainland India, closing the offices of airlines and booking counters and stopping others from proceeding outside the State, and raising slogans like Go Back Indian Army etc have the potential to throw the people's movement in the wrong light.

It was to check such activities that the NSA has been slapped on certain individuals, the CM explained.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the students not to go ahead with the text book surrender protest planned from August 25.On the argument that the AFSPA has not been imposed at Tamil Nadu and Delhi where terrorists killed former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the Indian Parliament came under attack respectively, the CM said that the Act has not been imposed there because these places have not raised any voice to secede.

Ibobi further said that the ultimatum served on the MLAs to resign within a specific time frame is nothing but a challenge to the verdict of the people.

Such stand will only besmirch the principles of democracy, he noted.

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