The Hindu : National : Some provisions of Special Powers Act `horrifying': CPI

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Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

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National

Some provisions of Special Powers Act `horrifying': CPI

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 13. The senior Communist Party of India leader, A.B. Bardhan, has urged the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre not to use its overriding powers to reimpose the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the Imphal Municipal area in Manipur.

``The Centre should wait and watch and see if the withdrawal of ``disturbed area'' status of the Imphal Municipal area by the Manipur Government helps in bringing the situation to normal,'' Mr. Bardhan said at a press conference here today.

The CPI leader said that there should be no hurry on the part of the Centre.

``The Centre should not use its overriding powers in a haste.''

The Manipur Government's decision on Thursday has rendered the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act ineffective in the Imphal municipal area.

Criticising the excesses in the execution of the Act, Mr. Bardhan demanded that the Assam Rifles personnel be withdrawn from Imphal and be stationed outside the town.

Stating that the whole of Manipur was up in arms with women actively participating in the protests, Mr. Bardhan observed that some of the provisions of the Act were ``horrifying and needed review''. ``We are not dealing with terrorists, but insurgents.''

Rise in oil price

About the possible increase in the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene and cooking gas, Mr. Bardhan said frequent rise in oil prices would badly affect the common man and the country's economy at large.

There was enough scope to keep the oil prices under control by readjusting the excise and import duties, he said.

Mr. Bardhan criticised the UPA Government for its ``unilateral announcement'' to decrease the interest rate on employees' provident fund (EPF) from the existing 9.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent.

``We do not accept the decision,'' he said, while adding that the Left parties would take up the issue with the Centre shortly.

As regards the Centre's proposal to raise the cap in foreign direct investment in telecom and insurance sectors, Mr. Bardhan reiterated that there should be no increase in FDI in these two sectors.

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