Former Manipur CM on sit-in for repeal of AFSP Act

New Delhi, Nov 22 (UNI) The youth wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today held a massive demonstration here, demanding immediate repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from Manipur.

Talking to newsmen, NCP State president and former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam said under that legislation a jawan can shoot any person and nobody can raise any question to that.

He said,'' This is worse than the British rule when they governed the country.'' It is a great humiliation for the people of Manipur and any self-respecting citizen in the country will not tolerate this.

He said about a decade ago a high-power committee had recommended the Centre to repeal this piece of the act as this sort of act could not be found under any norms in any democratic set-up in the world.

Mr Koijam said Great Lady Irom Sharmila Chanu of Manipur, who is fighting for the restoration of Manipuri's honour in the country, is on a hunger strike for the scrapping of this inhuman law and her health condition is worsening day by day, but so far the Government has not shown any sign of saving her precious life.

He said the Centre is driving the people of Manipur to take extreme steps and that could happen if she dies in the course of fast unto death.

UNI DG/BKS RL GC1627