Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 (NNN):
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has threatened to agitate and boycott the proposed visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Manipur in the event of the failure to give satisfactory clarifications from the government on various issues including alleged �open collection of illegal tax from Manipur bound vehicles by the NSCN-IM which is on cease-fire with the government of India�.
In a statement issued to Newmai News Network today UCM president in-charge Konsam Lanngamba said the government should clarify on why it (government) is maintaining silence when the NSCN-IM is openly collecting huge amount of taxes on Manipur bound vehicles.
"The government knows all these activities of the NSCN-IM but it (Government of India) closes its eyes on the outfit�s activities.
But this time it should provide reasonable explanation to the people of Manipur as to why it has been keeping mum on the matter, demanded the UCM leader.
Lanngamba said the govt should also clarify on the statement of Oscar Fernandes with regard to Naga integration demands.
The UCM leader then demanded that necessary clarification be made by the Centre on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
All these clarifications should be made by the Centre before the visit of Prime Minister to Manipur, it insisted while threatening that in case of failure for a appropriate response there will be strong agitation and boycott the PM's visit, said the UCM president.
The UCM leader while elaborating his points said that Union minister Oscar Fernandes' statement that a national level meeting on Naga integration is being conceived should be clarified by the government as to what position/stands of the Centre on the issue.
Lanngamba, while recalling the Prime minister�s assurance during his visit to Manipur said �Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured us that he would do something with regard to the AFSPA issue within six months but now it is one year that nothing had been done in this regard�.
"The Prime Minister even went to the extent of saying that he might even do it within three months time,� he recalled.