Imphal, April 09 2009: State Chief Minister O Ibobi today made it clear that so long as underground outfits leave their demand of sovereignty and stop kidnapping of people for ransom, extortion, looting of public properties and other anti-social activities like attacking to the houses of the government officials and general people, there is no question of lifting of the Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 from the state of Manipur.

"Stop violent activities and harassing the people, come to negotiating table within the Constitution leaving behind sovereignty demand.

I assure you, the Act will repeal at once," Ibobi said.

The chief minister who was addressing at the flag hoisting function of the Congress nominee in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency and sitting MP Dr T Meinya also blamed other political parties and candidates in the fray in both the Parliamentary constituencies of the state for making territorial integrity of Manipur, an issue reiterating "territorial integrity of Manipur will not be disturbed at any cost.

"Congress stands for it".

State Congress chief Gaikhangam who also attended the flag hoisting function also said that other political parties and candidates in the fray are trying to woo the voters to make issue to an non-issue matter of integrity of the state which Congress always stand for protection.

Mention may be made that AFSPA and territorial integrity of the state have been main issues which various political parties and candidates in their election campaigns trying to woo the voters when electioneering are at high peak with the elections to the two Lok Sabha seats from Manipur knocking at the door.

Elections will be conduct in the state at two phases (April 16 for Outer and April 22 for Inner) .

Chief minister, O Ibobi Singh elaborately speaking on the demand of repeal of the AFSPA Act from the state said that he as well as his government also do not want to impose to impose it in the state.

But despite, government outmost effort, the activities of extortion, looting of public properties and threatening of people by attacking with guns and bombs to the houses of the individuals, mostly to the government employees for not paying their extortion demands are increasing day by day.

So long as such activities are stopped and militant outfits review their demand for a sovereign state outside the Indian Union, it will be hard to consider the repeal of the Act from the state, he observed.

"My government also knows what the public wanted and at the same time, it is also the duty of the government to protect the life and properties of the people." But on what ground, the Act is to be repeal when there is reports of violent activities of the underground elements of threatening people with guns and bombs, Singh asked the gathering.

Talking on the question of integrity that has been one of the issues which political parties and candidates are taking up during the election campaign, Ibobi said he did not want to talk on the matter repeated as Congress has made it clear at several occasions that the party will at any cost allow disintegration of Manipur.

The party will not do any works which will amount to large scale violence to fulfill one community, he said.

President, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Gaikhangam also reaffirmed the party decision not to disturbed territorial integrity of the state.

Congress believed in living together in harmony among the different communities settling in the state, he added.

Like the chief minister, he also blamed other political parties for making issue to a non-issue matter and criticized them of trying to woo the voters by talking lair against the Congress party.

Sitting MP and Congress nominee, Dr T Meinya said that he wanted to solve all the problems ahead of the people and will continue working for bringing peace in the region stressing the need of the same in taking up developmental works.

Though, the flag hoisting function which also marked the launching of the election campaign of the congress in the Inner Parliamentary seat was attended by Congress MLAs and ministers and people coming from other districts, less turn up of local people of Khumbong area in Imphal where the candidate hails from observed.

But, Meinya said with the formal launching of his election campaign, he will pick up his election campaigns in other part of the constituency from today amidst the threats from a militant outfit who is attacking congress workers and its offices in the last few months.

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