Imphal, January 18: The Committee to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 will begin hearing at the national capital from tomorrow.

The Committee which conducted hearings at Imphal recently has called upon civil society groups and stakeholders to give their views on the Act at the hearings which will be held upto January 21.The Committee has been encouraged by its visit to Manipur where many groups and individuals as well as legislators and officials submitted representations, a PIB statement said.

The Committee has urged for representations in writings at its office in New Delhi Gate No 23, A-Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi-110003 (Tel-fax: 24350222).Those willing to make oral submissions in addition to written statements may also do so by registering with the Committee�s secretary.

The hearings would be held at Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi-110001.It may be recalled here that the Committee was set up in November, 2004 after Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh assured a group of representatives from Manipur that the Government would look into all aspects of the Act and its implementation in the North East region.

Barring Sikkim, the Act is in place in seven of the eight States of the region and there have been public demands for its repeal.

The Committee which is to submit its report within six months of its appointment is headed by Justice (Retd) BP Jeevan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court and former chairman of the Law Commission of India.

The other members are Dr SB Nakade, former Vice Chancellor, PP Shrivastav, former Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Lt Gen (Retd) VR Raghavan and Sanjoy Hazarika, journalist.

Meanwhile, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has strongly objected to the proposal of the Review Committee holding its hearing at New Delhi starting from tomorrow.

There is no logic for holding the hearing at New Delhi and listen to the comments of those people who have not suffered under the impact of the draconian Act, said publicity committee of the Apunba Lup in a statement jointly signed by Ch Premita, RK Bhumi and Jotin Salam today.

The arrangement is being made only to put the people of Manipur in the wrong light, and it should be opposed by all the people of Manipur, the statement said, adding that the plot being laid by India Government should be aware by one and all.

The non committal stand of India Government with regard to the demand of the Manipuris to repeal the Act could be easily gauged from the fact that it did not take up any measures in accordance to the response it receives from the people, the statement said.

Comment