Imphal, March 29 2010: Taking strong exception to the failure of the Government of India to act on the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister on June 17, 2006, the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) has decided to launch a series of intense agitation in a phase-wise manner.

The memorandum had highlighted various issues related to the Northeast region including the public demand for repealing Armed Forces' Special Powers Act, 1958 .

The decision to launch series of agitation was adopted during the general body cum executive council meeting of NESO which was held at Guwahati from March 25 to 27 .

Talking to mediapersons in this connection at AMSU headquarters here today, president of AMSU Irengbam Jamesbond Mangang, who is also the assistant secretary of NESO, said that the attitude of sidelining the issues of Northeastern region by the Government of India is condemnable.

Informing that a memorandum highlighting various issues including the public demand for repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act had been submitted to the Prime Minister of India on June 17, 2006, Jamesbond rued that the Prime Minister has not given any response to these demands till date.

NESO has taken serious note of such indifferent attitude of the Government of India to the problems of Northeastern region, he added.

Elaborating on the plan of action of NESO, the student leader informed that as first phase of the agitation, NESO would organise a sit-in-protest in front of Parliament just a day ahead of the upcoming Parliament session.

Apart from putting pressures on the MPs from the Northeast, another memorandum would also be submitted to the Prime Minister.

Some of the important issues that have been highlighted in the memorandum include the public demand for repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act, to initiate human rights and peace process, to resolve border dispute, framing of a separate employment policy for the North East, development of economy and necessary infrastructure in the region, introduction of Inner Line permit system to stop influx of outsiders, setting up more medical colleges, institution of special education commission and increasing extra curriculum activities, etc.

NESO had also reportedly submitted another memorandum to the Prime Minister on February 12 this year highlighting issues related to harassment of students from North East, particularly the girls.

The Prime Minister had also responded to the memorandum with the assurance that necessary steps would be taken up to ensure such incident of harassments do not recur.

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