Manmohan reaches out to Manipuris, urges rebels

Nov 21, 2004 13:7 IST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday called upon militant groups to shun violence and talk peace during a hectic day-long visit to Manipur when he launched work on its first railway .....

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday called upon militant groups to shun violence and talk peace during a hectic day-long visit to Manipur when he launched work on its first railway network, and promised to review a controversial anti-terrorist law.

That he had won over countless hearts and minds was evident Saturday evening as hundreds of people shed tears of joy after Manmohan Singh handed over to the local government the historic Kangla Fort to meet a long-standing demand to return to the Manipuris a symbol of their culture and pride.

Speaking at a public meeting, Manmohan Singh appealed to all separatist groups in Manipur to give up arms and open peace talks with the government.

We want all groups to eschew violence and join the constitutional process, the prime minister said.

It is not proper to resort to arms when grievances can be redressed through constitutional means, Manmohan Singh maintained, adding that peace was a prerequisite for the development of the region.

There cannot be development if there is no peace or order, the prime minister said.

Development was the recurrent theme of Manmohan Singh’s visit as he laid the foundation stone of a multibillion-rupee railway line in Jiribam, 200 km west of this state capital, finally giving the troubled northeastern state a much-needed railway network.

We hope this railway line would help in better connectivity and improving the infrastructure in this remote region, Manmohan Singh said. We are committed to working towards overall development in the region.

The 7.28-billion rupee ($160 million) broad gauge railway line will connect the region with the rest of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced five special railway projects for the state.

Manmohan Singh earlier landed at Silchar in Assam and flew by an army helicopter to Jiribam, kicking off his three-day trip to the northeast.

His arrival was marked by a total shutdown called by a rebel group.

Speaking at a university convocation ceremony, Singh announced that a controversial anti-terror law that gives sweeping powers to the military to shoot at sight and arrest anybody without a warrant was being reviewed.

I am aware of the legitimate concerns expressed by the people regarding the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). There is need for a balance between local aspirations and our concern for national security and so we have set up a review committee to look into the Act, Singh said.

Even if the Act remains, we must see that there are proper checks and balances introduced to ensure the rights of the people.

Manipur has been in turmoil since July after a 32-year-old woman was allegedly killed in military custody after being raped. The Apunba Lup, a group of 32 organisations, has been spearheading protests since July demanding repeal of the Act.

I want to work towards removing forever any sense of isolation that may be there. We will build new physical links and nurture old emotional ones so that Manipur is never far from us, he said amid thunderous applause.

His references to Manipur as the Switzerland of the East and the Jewel of India also drew tremendous cheer from the gathering.

The biggest applause though came when he announced that Manipur University would be upgraded into a central university. Both teachers and students hailed the decision.

We welcome the decision because it will bring in more grants and facilities for both students and teachers, said K. Singh, a university teacher.

The prime minister also mentioned the immense sporting talent of Manipur.

You have a rich tradition in sports ...we are hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games and would like to bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Manipur will have to play a major role in training and generating the next generation of world class sportspersons who can win laurels in these Games, he said.

Howev er, contrary to the atmosphere inside the university, the mood on the streets of Imphal was sombre, with a public curfew enforced by the outlawed Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), one of some 20 groups active in Manipur.

Children played on the streets while shops, businesses, schools and colleges remained shut due to the rebel shutdown. Most locals, however, said they observed the strike for fear of reprisal by the militants.

On Monday, the prime minister is to flag off a historic Southeast Asian car rally from Guwahati, the main city of Assam. The rally covers 10 countries.

--Indo-Asian News Service

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