Imphal, November 27: Even as most other political parties, both National and regional, have favoured repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from the State, the ruling coalition partners Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India remain ambiguous on the vexed issue.

At the one day Political Dialogue on Repeal of AFSPA organised in conjunction with the 8th Anti-AFSPA Day at Manipur Press Club, INC and CPI representatives made obscure statements.

Referring to the repeal of the infamous Act from seven Assembly segments within Imphal Municipality area, MPCC (I) general secretary L Jayentakumar said, "Morning shows the day".

Without making any direct statement, he said that MPCC (I) has been considering what it can do about AFSPA during the ongoing session of the Parliament.

Regarding his own personal opinion, he asked whether it would be better to repeal the Act or make the Act invalid in the State.

In the words of CPI Manipur State Committee general secretary L Jotinkumar, repeal of AFSPA was not an end in itself and CPI never demanded repeal of the Act.

Nevertheless, CPI would work for a political solution to the insurgency problem of the State.

It would also work for economic and social development of the State against the possible negative impacts of globalisation and liberalisation, said Jotinkumar.

On the other hand, during the Political Dialogue moderated by retired Professor Arambam Lokendra, MPP president Dr L Chandramani, NCP president Radhabinod Koijam, MSCP Spokesman Kh Devbrata, JD (S) president W Kullabidhu, SP vice-president A Tondon, CPI (M) State Committee secretary Y Mohendro, BJP general secretary S Tikendra, RJD general secretary Devan Thingbaijam, Yambem Biren of Humanist Party, Valley Rose of NNP BSP acting president Kavita Devi made emphatic statements against AFSPA and demanded repeal of the Act.

Dr L Chandramani said that he wrote to Chief Minister to organise such a common political platform and to launch a common political movement of all political parties against AFSPA during the ongoing Parliamentary session.

He also asked the Chief Minister to save the life of Irom Sharmila who has fasting for six years.

As for NCP, the party did not entertain any ambiguity on the issue of AFSPA, said Radhabinod Koijam.

Saying that the Act was discriminatory, he said that NCP leaders would raise the issue in the Parliament.

Valley Rose said that she was also a victim of AFSPA while asserting that NNP would fight against the Act imposed to crush Nagas.

She informed that abolition of AFSPA has been included in the manifesto of NNP.

The Political Dialogue organised by Imphal Group I and Imphal Group II of Amnesty International was presided by Amnesty International senior member Ibotombi Khuman.

Amnesty International has been observing November 27 as Anti-AFSPA 1958 since 1999 against the ruling of the Supreme Court issued in 1997 which said that the Act was constitutionally valid.

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