Manipur group agrees to talk with Centre again

An umbrella organisation of 32 outfits spearheading the campaign against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has agreed to start a dialogue with the Centre.

In an important breakthrough in the deadlock in Manipur, representatives of the Apunba Lup, an umbrella organisation of 32 outfits spearheading the campaign against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), have agreed to start a dialogue with the Centre.

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Home ministry sources said representatives of the Apunba Lup are likely to meet home minister Shivraj Patil in the Capital on November 1. There is a possibility of these representatives meeting PM Manmohan Singh also.

Give and take

“The agitators were adamant on withdrawal of the AFSP being made a pre-condition for a dialogue. But this position has changed,'' a Home Ministry official said.

The Centre has conveyed to the Apunba Lup that it was willing to discuss any issue, including the AFSPA. Home Ministry sources said there would be discussion on the need to review certain provisions of the Act and whether it should be withdrawn from some more areas of the state.

Forward movement

Home Ministry officials admitted the situation in Manipur had improved and the Centre could look into the possibility of withdrawing the AFSPA from some more areas. However, they were quick to add that the Act will not be withdrawn completely.

"The resumption of dialogue is a forward movement and we need to see how things progress from here," an official added.