Imphal, October 29: The overriding demand of UG groups to secede under the pretext of restoring lost sovereignty of Manipur is impractical, said Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya while appealing to the UG groups to sit together and work out a rational formula.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the office of Yoibu Yoihen Lup at Thongju part II today, Dr Meinya observed that the demand of UGs to secede was an utopian dream.

Saying that arms would not solve the problem, he called upon them to come forward for dialogues.

The MP noted that the problem of insurgency could not be solved by force.

Until and unless the problem of insurgency is solved by means of political dialogue, there would no progress in any development activity, said Dr Meinya.

To a question raised by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh concerning which UG group the Union Government would talk with to end the insurgency movement in Manipur, the MP could not point out any particular group on account of the many UG groups operating in the State, he said recalling a meeting with the PM.

Touching on the burning issue of AFSPA, he said that the Union Government is considering to table the report of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Review Committee in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

He maintained that the State Govt has no authority to scrap the Act in toto.

Only the Union Government can decide on the matter, he asserted.

Nevertheless, the State Govt has the right to enforce or exempt the Act in Manipur.

He also sought cooperation from the people to help Congress return to power so that the development programmes taken up by the SPF Government could be completed properly.

Speaking on the occasion, MANITRON Chairman MLA Bijoy Koijam mentioned the merits of such offices and noted that the new office building would benefit the people of the area particularly the youngsters.

The new office building was constructed from the local area development funds of Bijoy Koijam and Dr Meinya in addition to the contributions made by people.

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