Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
New Delhi, October 17:
Suprising, but true � Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal is apparently unaware that the Jeevan Reddy Committee's report on the review of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was submitted to the Government over a year ago.
"We in the Government are considering the recommendations of the Justice B P Jeevan Reddy Committee's report....," was Jaiswal's reply in response to queries from reporters today about the fate of the report.
When it was pointed out that the report had been lying with the Home Ministry since it was submitted last year, Jaiswal shot back, "When you do not know about the facts, don't ask a question.
The report was submitted only two months back..." "No you are wrong," contended Jaiswal though his colleague Minister S Reghupathy had said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha during last year's winter session that the report and its recommendations were being considered.
The committee, set up following widespread protests against the Act in Manipur, had submitted its report to the Home Ministry on June 6, 2005.In his written reply, Reghupathy had informed Rajya Sabha on December seven last year that the report of the panel headed by the former Supreme Court judge was under examination.
The five-member committee has reportedly recommended that certain provisions of the AFSPA be incorporated in the Unlawful Activities Act.