IMPHAL, April 28: BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba today lambasted Dr Th Meinya’s speech on Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Parliament yesterday, asserting that if the MP really wants the Act to be repealed then he should have talked to the State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and MPCC president TN Haokip.
Speaking to a group of media persons at his chamber today, Chaoba claimed the three times MP should ask the Chief Minister and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president to remove the Disturbed Area Status from the entire State, if he really wants to see AFSPA repealed.
Referring to the MP’s speech in Parliament yesterday, Chaoba asked if the MP had to take permission from the Chief Minister to speak during the Parliament session.
A State cabinet decision removing the Disturbed Area Status is more than enough to repeal AFSPA from the State, if Dr Meinya really wants to save Irom Chanu Sharmila’s life, Chaoba said.
If the State government can remove the Disturbed Area Status from the Imphal municipality segments, than it can remove it from the entire State, he added.
Once this status is removed, the AFSPA will be reduced powerless, he asserted.
He said the MP’s speech is just an act to mislead the people of the State. He said the MP use to be silent in a corner when Congress was in power.
Chaoba continued that when the Congress led UPA government was there in the Centre, several committees had recommended repeal of the AFSPA but the government had denied the recommendations, due to objections from the Army.
Demanding MP Meinya to ask the State government to withdraw the Disturb Area Status from the State, he said if the need arises, the BJP Manipur will also pressurise the Centre on the same considering the interest of the general public.
Chaoba continued that the present issue surrounding the aided college teachers is unfortunate.
He demanded if the government has actually no money for the teachers, then it should adopt a policy to help the teachers survive.
He said all these issues surrounding the education sector in the State is due to the incompetence of the former Education minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh who had promised many things during his regime but failed to deliver any of them.
He alleged that Okendro had never taken the education sector seriously, and instead was involved in CAF and PD items distribution.