Sangma seeks withdrawal of Act in Manipur

Expressing unhappiness over the Centre handling the Manipur situation, PA Sangma on Thursday sought total withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958.

Expressing unhappiness over the Centre handling the Manipur situation, National Trinamool Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker, PA Sangma on Thursday sought total withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958

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Terming the Act as 'worse than POTA,' Sangma told a press conference in Coimbatore that he had already written to Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to withdraw the Act for a period of six months on experimental basis.

The Centre can review the situation during the intervening period and always re-impose if the situation did not improve, he said, adding that the district collector has the authority to call in or deploy Army any time in the wake of deterioration of law and order.

"I am not at all happy about the handling of the Manipur situation by the Centre and the Act should be withdrawn immediately," he said.

The Centre, after withdrawing the Act, should initiate or restart a fresh dialogue with all concerned and the insurgent groups to find a solution, Sangma said.

Detailing on the various 'ill-effects' of the Act, directly affecting the people of Manipur, Sangma asked "when the government is willing to repeal the POTA, why not this Act, which did not exist in any part of the world".