The Hindu : National : Keishing meets Manmohan, pleads Manipur's case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

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National

Keishing meets Manmohan, pleads Manipur's case

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 13. A day after the Ibobi Singh Government partially lifted the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Imphal city, following widespread public protests, the former Manipur Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing, and the State Minister, Devendra Singh, today met the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and gave their assessment of the situation in the State.

Mr. Keishing later told reporters that they pleaded the case of the Manipur Government that had withdrawn the Act from Imphal and Greater Imphal on a trial basis. ``It is a test case for us and it can be a tactical move because this Act is not permanent but a temporary measure,'' he said.

Mr. Keishing said that no one wanted the controversial Act to remain permanently in force but added that ``situation has to be created so that it goes.'' Despite the Manipur Government's move and the Centre deciding to wait and watch the developments, protests continued in Manipur today demanding withdrawal of the Act from the entire State.

The Congress reacted cautiously to the Manipur developments.

The party spokesperson Anand Sharma, said the Congresed wants the situation to return to normal and the situation in the sensitive border State was a matter of concern.

``The Government is seized of the matter and the Cabinet will take [an] appropriate view based on the assessment of the Home Ministry,'' Mr. Sharma said insisting that recent outburst in the State was because of an ``unfortunate and reprehensible act.''

Asked what the party thought of the demand for withdrawal of the AFSPA, Mr. Sharma said the Act was applicable to various insurgency-hit States in the northeast and one incident would not lead to its withdrawal.

To a question whether there was a move to replace the Chief Minister, Ibobi Singh, Mr. Sharma said the case was not that of an individual.

The Congress leadership was in constant touch with the State leaders and the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, has spoken to all concerned.

``Efforts are being made to defuse the situation,'' he said.

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