Centre ready to talk to Manipur stir leaders: Patil

The government was willing to meet the agitating organisations of Manipur, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said yesterday after a meeting with state Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, who ruled out complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Patil told reporters after the meeting that the Apunba Lup, an amalgam of 32 agitating organisations in the state, had expressed their desire to hold discussions with the Centre.

Singh had earlier met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister for Northeast PR Kyndiah. "We are willing to meet them but the proper thing will be that they should meet the state government representatives ideally first," Patil said.

Asked about the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Patil said people in Manipur had spoken in favour and against the Act. "There were some who spoke about reviewing the Act and make it less stringent.

"However, this is a decision which will not be taken individually by me and if there is a need to review it, the same has to be done by the law ministry," Patil said. The home minister also said the issue would be discussed with his other Cabinet colleagues before a final decision was taken.

Earlier emerging from the meeting with Patil, Ibobi Singh claimed that the Centre had agreed to review some portions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act but ruled out its complete withdrawal from the state saying "extortions and secessionist and separatist movements are still going on in other areas of the state."

The chief minister said the representatives of the Apunba Lup were willing to talk with both the state and central governments. "They are willing to talk to us and the Centre. The home minister is also always ready to talk to them," he said.

Singh claimed that the situation in the state was now "more or less normal" but ruled out withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the whole state.

The state government had repealed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Imphal municipal area last month following widespread protests which erupted after a woman Manorama Devi was allegedly raped and killed by Assam Rifles jawans on July 11.

"They (protesters) are insisting for it (withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the entire state). But at this juncture, it is not possible to withdraw further. Only when there is no extortion, secessionist or separatist movement and there is complete normalcy, can it be withdrawn from the entire state," Singh said.

"I have already discussed the situation. At this time, it is not possible to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the entire state. Normalcy is not there in the entire state. Extortions have not stopped. People of Manipur have to feel safe," the chief minister said.