Imphal, November 27: Joining other political parties calling for repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, the NCP would be pressing for repeal of the Act which has become synonymous with �black law� after December 4 during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament, said NCP Manipur State Unit president Radhabinod Koijam.

Radhabinod and other NCP leaders also took part in the sit-in-protest staged at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on November 22 demanding repeal of AFSPA and a solution to the armed conflict situation in Manipur.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival at Imphal yesterday, Radhabinod disclosed that the Lok Sabha Speaker had permitted NCP North East in-charge general secretary PA Sangma to table the issue of AFSPA 1958 in the Parliament on November 23 but PA Sangma could not raise the issue as the proceedings of the Lok Sabha was disrupted due to a commotion on the issue of awarding penalty to those involved in the attack at Parliament.

In keeping his words given to public at the Sit-in-protest at New Delhi to insists for repeal of the Act during the Parliamentary session, PA Sangma would be taking up the issue in the Lok Sabha after December 4, conveyed Radhabinod.

The infamous Act imposed in the hill districts since 1960 and then all over the State since 1980 has failed to serve its purpose of containing insurgency movement rather it brought about untold miseries to the people and wanton violation of human rights, he noted adding NCP firmly believed that there was no need to impose the Act in Manipur any further.

Saying that NCP's stand was not just an election agenda, he said that his conscience was also against the infamous Act.

He asserted that a month long unilateral ceasefire declared by the State Government during his tenure as Chief Minister was a step towards revocation of the Act from Manipur.

Following the amendment made in 1972, the Union Government was empowered to declare any particular area or State as Disturbed Area.

Exercising this power, the Union Government declared the whole Nagaland State as Disturbed Area and imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

The Government of Nagaland did not declare the State a Disturbed Area, Radhabinod stated.

The two day workshop on "Manipur Movement: Conflict and Political Resolution" held on November 17 and 18 at Jamia University campus was addressed by many resource persons including representatives of civil organisations based in Manipur.

At Delhi, Radhabinod called on Sharmila and conveyed NCP's solidarity to her cause, he said.

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