New Delhi, March 16: Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency delivered his speech in Manipuri in the Lok Sabha on yesterday while he was participating in the general discussion on the Union Budget 2007-08.He started his speech in Manipuri and continued it for about two minutes and then switched to English.

In his speech, he analyzed the achievement of the UPA Government during the first half of its term.

He found out that there were more gains and fewer losses.

He said, "The best gain being attainment of almost nine per cent growth rate of GDP.

The seemingly apparent loss is our inability to maintain the price stability and to arrest the average inflation." Highlighting the law and order problem of the country, he said, " Our land is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, the Apostle of peace and non-violence.

Every day we have reports of violence from different ultras, be it, Naxalites, insurgencies in North East and Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists etc.

There is hardly any day when there are no news of killings, murders and what not".

He emphasized, "We have to address this problem with all sincerity and commitment so that our children do not suffer from what we are suffering today".

Referring to the various problems of Manipur, he stated that Manipur had been facing problems in getting timely supply of essential commodities including life saving drugs, due to poor transport connectivity.

There were frequent blockades and bandhs on National Highways connecting Manipur and the rest of the country.

He pointed out that two lifelines, NH-39 and NH-53 are not fully developed.

Four-laning from Maram to Moreh on NH-39 had not been started and double-laning of NH-53 was yet to be completed.

He drew the attention of the House to develop NH-53A, NH-150 and NH-150A soon.

He identified some laws of the land, which were national in character and regional in application.

He pointed out, " One such law is the infamous � Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958." He narrated that the Act had been in some way or the other inherited from the British Raj and put in force to contain the insurgent activities in Assam and its autonomous district of Nagaland in 1958.Thereafter, the Act was in force in all States of North East and Jammu and Kashmir during 1980s.During this long period of time neither the growth of insurgency was contained nor peace was restored in those areas, he added.

Dr T Meinya reiterated that the people of Manipur have been fighting for the repeal of the Act.

One lady, Irom Sharmila had on fast for more than six years.

She was brought to the capital last year and then again she had been taken back to Manipur.

She still continued her fast for repeal of the Act.

Since the Act could be repealed only an Act of Parliament, he urged upon the Union Government to look into report of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and to repeal the AFSPA, 1958.Dr..TMeinya also urged upon the Union Government to solve the NSCN (IM) issue sooner than later.

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