Imphal: K Meghachandra, Working President of Manipur Congress, on Saturday demanded repeal of the Armed forces Special Powers Act 1958.
Addressing the media at Congress office, Meghachandra said Congress government removed AFSPA from seven Assembly constituencies in 2004.
So many civilians were killed during the Oinam, Malom, Heirangoithong, RIMS massacre, he reminded. As long as the Act remains, killings of innocents under AFSPA will continue, he added.
As Manipur Chief Minister N Biren had claimed that the law and order situation had improved, Disturbed Area Status should be withdrawn, he demanded.
Nagaland Chief Minister and other Chief Ministers of the region have demanded repeal of AFSPA. The NPP which is an ally of the BJP in Manipur was also not working seriously on the matter he said. Chief Minister N Biren should make his stand clear on the issue, he further said.
Disturbed Area status can be removed by the State government and Manipur government along with other north eastern states should urge the central government to repeal AFSPA he added. The CM, ministers and all leaders should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand repeal of AFSPA during the Winter session of Parliament he added.
People of north eastern states are living like second class citizens, as AFSPA is not enforced in other states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand he said. In other states except north eastern states there is no news of troops killing citizens he said. Even though India is a democratic country, draconian and black law like AFSPA is enforced in the north eastern states, he said.
