NNN
Imphal, April 11
BJP Manipur Pradesh is still unchanged when it comes to the push for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act from Manipur.In an exclusive interview with our agency, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba said that the Act has been terrorising and affecting the people of Manipur for several years. He said that it is very unfortunate for the Congress-led state government to stay blind and deaf to the atrocities faced by the people in the veil of AFSPA and Disturbed Area Status. Even though AFSPA cannot be repealed by the state government, it could have uplifted the disturbed area status, which is very well under its capability, Chaoba added. Uplifting the status from seven Assembly segments on trial basis did not bring a visible improvement in the law and order situation. As a result, the status should be removed from the whole state, and in that process, at the least the rate of atrocities done by the Indian armed forces to the civilians will be minimised, and AFSPA may become a toothless military act.
On asking what BJP Manipur Pradesh will do if it can, Th Chaoba replied that BJP Manipur has, in fact, included repeal of AFSPA as an important agenda in its election manifesto at the 16th Lok Sabha Election.
The state unit is still sticking to that agenda and if it comes into power, disturbed area status will be removed from the whole of state. He further promised a peaceful Manipur, and hoped that BJP saves the life of Irom Chanu Sharmila someday.
Th Chaoba also said that removing Disturbed Area Status is a state matter and state subject, and the government must uplift it. He also appealed the people not to disappoint on the recent rejection of the recommendations of the Jeevan Reddy Commission as it is a decision solely taken by the government at the Centre, and said that the decision will not play spoiler in the public’s quest for a peaceful Manipur. And the state government should take major decisions in the interest of the state.
Reacting to our query on whether the BJP government at Centre has been especially tight on releasing funds on the Congress-led Manipur government, Th Chaoba denied any truth in this statement.
He added that difference in parties at the Centre and the State has nothing to do with the fund release and transactions. He reasoned that the poor and inefficient administration and governance of Manipur government is only responsible for the state receiving tighter budget recently. The state government has been mismanaging in almost every department, and they could not submit UCs in time. This resulted in Centre losing faith in the state government.
The best example of mismanagement is recruitment of more than 10,000 VDF personnel, which majorly exceeded the required personnel strength which is 2000.
Such examples of bad governance invited itself into trouble, and added that the BJP government is very much caring and concern about the welfare and happiness of Manipuri people. The flaws of Manipur government should be blamed instead. The Centre is ready to do anything possible for the people of Manipur.
President Th Chaoba also appealed the people of Manipur to have faith in BJP and to render their support and co-operation, so that Narendra Modi’s vision of serving the people of Manipur and developing Manipur comes true and possible.
