Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, November 22:
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) organised a sit-in dharna at Jantra Mantar New Delhi today from 11am to 5 pm to demand repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958 and to save the life of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting for the last six years for the repeal of the Act.
PA Sangma who took part in the dharna assured the gathering that he would take up the issue in Parliament tomorrow to seek the repeal of the Act.
Other than PA Sangma, General Secretary, NCP and in-charge of NE, those present included president of NCP youth, Conrad Sangma, Radhabinod Koijam, President NCP, Manipur, RVBidhuri, President NCP, Delhi Pradesh, Lalit Singh, Former Finance Minister, Manipur, ABiren Singh, Fomer Minister, Manipur, KSarat Singh and Kh.Ibomcha Singh, General Secretaries, NCP Manipur, URohini Kumar Singh, Secretary, NCP, Manipur, M Prafullo Singh, newly elected youth president, NCP, Manipur, Loli Ada-nee, Vice President, NCP Manipur, Babloo Laishram, Coordinator Apunba Lup, LCJinin, Member, Apunba Lup and RKBanerjit, President, MSAD along with many members of Apunba Lup and MSAD.
The huge participants included representatives from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, Delhi, etc.
At the meeting PA Sangma, Radhabinod Koijam, Lalit Singh, Conrad Sangma, LCJinin, RKBanerjit and others spoke criticising the Act and describing it as the most inhumane Act.
AFSPA has caused the death of thousands of people in the State, they asserted.
The Act has become an instrument of harrasment, torture, killing, rape, molest, even sodomy.
Though the act was imposed to curb insurgency on the other hand it has mushroomed in the State.
The speakers demanded that the Act should be repealed immediately.
Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had submitted its report to the Home Ministry, Government of India on 7 June 2005 to repeal the Act.
The speakers demanded to know why the draconian Act is not repealed so far.
PA Sangma assured that the issue would be taken for discussion in Parliament tomorrow to effect its repeal.