NEW DELHI, Aug 19 ? Amidst growing nervousness over Manipur, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil dangled the bait of economic package for the State, reiterating the Centre?s offer for dialogue to end the impasse. Manipur is fast turning out to be a painful thorn in the flesh for the Union Home Minister as he continues to be under fire of his colleagues and UPA allies. If Congressmen are unhappy with him and refuses to share his views on the State, CPI one of the UPA allies blasted him for failing to deliver.
Sources in the Left said that at the meeting of the UPA here yesterday, the CPI leaders took him to task for allowing the situation to deteriorate. CPI was reportedly sore with the Union Home Minister because he did not heed to their suggestion to partially revoke the armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) temporarily to pacify the people. Manipur Chief Minister, Ibobi Singh after dithering for about two weeks did the same thing but by then the situation deteriorated even further.
A section of the Congressmen feels that Ibobi Singh should be given some time to control the situation and all the necessary assistance. They are also peeved that people who have sound knowledge about the North-East have not been consulted. However, a dominant section within the Government advocates Central intervention though no time frame has been suggested for it.
Unfazed the Union Home Minister, addressing a press conference here today said that centre was willing to help the State with economic package. More funds could be made available for the State, he said. Employment opportunity can be created, he said, adding that new schemes could be created to generate more jobs.
Admitting that the Centre and State Government had differences over the AFSPA, the Union Home Minister threw a slight hint of change of stance by saying that if any law is to be reviewed, legislature was empowered to do it. But he stressed that he did not mean any specific Act let alone the AFSPA. The Centre will take appropriate action as and when necessary not in anger but only in interest of people of Manipur, Sri Patil said. As for his assessment of the prevailing situation, he said that it was fortunate that it has not deteriorated though there was not much of a change. The situation will continue to be difficult but the elected Government is doing its job, he said.