Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sang-ma struck the right chord with the people of Manipur asserting that she has come here not only as a representative of Garo Hills in Meghalaya but also Manipur and the entire North East.
The youngest Minister in the UPA Government at Delhi, Agatha Sangma who arrived here today morning on a two day visit also demonstrated her empathy with Irom Sharmila Chanu who has been on a fast unto death hunger strike since 2000 demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Straight on her arrival at Tulihal airport Miss Sangma along with NCP State unit president Radhabinod Koijam proceeded to the security ward of JN Hospital to meet Irom Sharmila Chanu who has been on a fast unto death agitation since 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Later speaking to the media Agatha Sangma acknow- ledged the determination of Sharmila and assured that she would put her case on the floor of Parliament to seek the repeal of the contentious Act.
The young Minister also pointed out that all the political leaders of the North East are against the continued imposition of the Act in the North East region and added that even the Jeevan Reddy Commission had recommended its repeal.
The Jeevan Reddy Commission, which was constituted following the huge outcry after the custodial death of Th Manorama in 2006 had recommended the repeal of AFSPA and recommended an alternative Act to deal with the situation in the region.
Radhabinod Koijam who was also present said that the NCP has been campaigning against AFSPA.
On the other hand, the ‘Iron Lady’ Irom Chanu Sharmila while interacting with media persons disclosed that the Union minister and the President of India are both women and she had a positive feeling that the AFSPA would be repealed from Manipur, as only a woman could understand the problems of other women.
Regarding the situation prevailing in the entire north eastern region, she maintained that economic development was the only way to tackle the insurgency problem in the north east. The increasing number of terrorists in the states was due to lack of economic development as many youths had become frustrated by the unavailability of jobs and various other related problems.
She further said she would work all out to get justice for the people of the north eastern region and also promised she would not let down the people of the entire north east. One of her main areas of concentration would be the youth and women as she had great expectations from both, she observed. She also feltthat capacity building was required in order to absorb the funds released by the Central government for which work was required from the grassroots level.
