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PM’s visit to the North-east

	November 22, 2004

After his peace mission to Kashmir, the Prime Minister spent his weekend in the troubled North East assuaging Manipuris who have launched a civil disobedience movement in the state over the reported atrocities by security forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

During his stay in Imphal, Manmohan Singh made earnest efforts to assure the people that his Government would extend all possible help to ensure their dignity and self respect. He held out the promise of justice and peace, and declared that he was in the strife-torn state to herald “a new process” for security and development.

“I have come to Manipur to start a new process, recognising your legitimate aspirations for a life of dignity with self-respect. That new process will be one in which we can ensure the security of all our people and the security of the nation in a manner that is just and humane. That was my message to the people of Kashmir. That is my message to the people of Manipur,” the Prime Minister said at a special convocation of Manipur University. The Prime Minister quoted Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to make it clear that he will not get into a blame game.

At another touching function, the Prime Minister handed over the historic Kangla Fort - located in the heart of Imphal city - to the State Government.

“Let the handing over of the Kangla Fort, the pride and glory of the State, open a new chapter in the history of Manipur, a chapter of understanding, amity, peace, justice, prosperity and all-round progress,” the Prime Minister said in his emotional appeal at a well-attended public meeting at the Fort complex.

People applauded as the Assam Rifles Director-General, Lt. Gen. Bhupinder Singh, handed over the Fort’s keys to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

The Kangla Fort was conquered by the British forces in 1891. The Assam Rifles came to the fort in 1915 and it has been in their use since then. “It is great, we have been waiting for this day,” several persons at the public meeting said. Unfortunately, it was in this historic fort that Manorama Devi was raped and killed, reportedly by personnel of the security forces.

The Prime Minister did not fight shy of touching upon the rape and killing of Manorama that provoked mass anger in the state. “While it is unfortunate that the brave men of our armed forces have on occasion become the object of public resentment because of the unacceptable behaviour of a few, we must remember that they are here to uphold the rule of law,” Singh said.

Referring to the mass demand for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Prime Minister said the Government had set up a committee to review it. It would suggest checks and balances in the Act or its replacement with a “more humane law which takes into account your legitimate aspirations and national security concerns.” He hoped that the committee’s work, expected to be completed in six months, would result in lasting peace and harmony.



Apunba Lup rejects six-month time limit : Differences crop up

However, the Apunba Lup, a 32-member organisations’ forum, leading the movement against the Act, has rejected the six-month time limit. A delegation of the organisation which met the Prime Minister in the evening, wanted the whole process of review to be completed by December 10 failing which it threatened to intensify its agitation.

“We shall intensify the agitation further. The Prime Minister’s promise to complete the review in six months is just a ploy. Excesses by the security forces will continue. Even after Manmohan Singh promised that there would be no repeat of the Manorama case, a 75-year-old schoolteacher was gunned down and his wife shot,” a hardliner said.

The hardliners reimposed the ban on teaching of Hindi and NCC activities in the whole of Manipur from Saturday last as no announcement was made that the Act would be revoked. This group had set a deadline of PM’s visit day to Manipur for such an announcement.

According to reports, differences have cropped up within the organisation over the issue. Scholar Arambam Lokendra, who led the Apunba Lup delegation to New Delhi, was not part of the delegation during the Imphal meeting.



Visit to Assam

After Manipur, the Prime Minister paid a two-day visit to Assam, the state which he represents in the Upper House of Parliament. The state which is ruled by his own party, the Congress, has high expectations from the Centre.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is hoping that the visit will provide a new thrust to the peace initiative with the two militant outfits active in the state, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

The peace initiative with the NDFB and the ULFA, which turned murky despite the promise of a breakthrough, is likely to dominate the Prime Minister’s discussions with the state government.

“The visit will definitely give a new thrust to the peace initiative and the Prime Minister is likely to spell out his government’s stand on the ULFA and the NDFB’s latest positions,” a Minister said.

The NDFB recently made it clear to a state government emissary, who met the outfit leaders at its base in Bangladesh, that it was not interested in talks with Dispur and would hold parleys only with the Centre.

The outfit said Dispur should convey its stand to New Delhi.

A delegation of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) is likely to apprise the Prime Minister of its stand on the proposed talks with the NDFB following the signing of the Bodo Accord by the Bodo Liberation Tigers last year, which paved the way for the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts.

The State Council of Ministers will meet the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan on Nov. 21 evening to apprise him of the socio-economic needs of the state. They are also expected to demand a special economic package for the state in particular and the region in general.

“The government will not submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister. However, we will definitely apprise him of our requirements and expectations,” said Forest and Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi. Sources, however, said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi might at the last moment decide to submit a representation to Singh.

The ministers are likely to ask Singh for a special initiative to tackle the flood problem, measures to boost tourism infrastructure in view of the centenary celebrations of the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary early next year and a separate industrial policy for the region.

A business and industry delegation and representatives of various public organisations will meet the Prime Minister on Monday morning. The industry has been critical of the Centre for extending the excise benefit enjoyed exclusively by the North-east to other states like Uttaranchal. The delegation will also seek from Singh a promise to reverse the move to include North Bengal in the North Eastern Council (NEC).

On Monday, Dr. Manmohan Singh will also flag off a South-east Asian car rally from Guwahati. The rally covers 10 countries and is aimed at fostering better trade ties between India and South-east Asian countries