IMPHAL, Aug 24 ? Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today said his Government also wanted complete removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the State, but would not tolerate violent agitation for that. In a statement here, Singh said the government was not against democratic agitation and non-violenct movement launched by the people for lifting the Act. But, he said, indulgence in violence and anti-national activities in the name of demanding lifting of the Act would mislead the people and the government would not remain a silent spectator.
Singh said dishonouring of national flag, misuse of educational institutions and wasting of precious time of students, boycott of ?India-made? goods, slogans such as ?Go Back Indian Army? during the agitation had compelled the government to detain the agitation leaders under National Security Act.
The Chief Minister said people had been facing insurgency problem, extortion and threat to lives for years and his ministry had been trying its best to restore normalcy and order in the state.
He said the question was raised why such Act was not imposed in Tamil Nadu where Rajiv Gandhi was killed or in Delhi where Parliament was attacked by terrorists. Singh clarified that the Act had not been imposed in these two states because there was no secessionist movement in the two states. He regretted the threat to MLAs to resign from the state Assembly and added if the people wanted to teach them lessons, they could do so at the time of elections.
Meanwhile, indefinite curfew was relaxed from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas of Imphal East and Imhal West districts of Manipur following improvement in law and order situation. Official sources said the curfew was also relaxed from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Thoubal and Bishenpur districts.