IMPHAL Dec 27: To push for promotion of tourism in the state and to press for the removal of the Protected Area Permit (PAP), a five member team of the Local Support Group for Removal of PAP will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Addressing a press conference at the Manipur Press Club, convenor of the support group RK Shivachandra told media persons that a signature campaign was launched on December 5 by Manipuris living in Canada, the online petition was endorsed by the support group in Manipur and more than a thousand signatures have been collected as paper copy and through the internet till now as the campaign has gathered strength.
He further stated that he is optimistic that the said act will be removed from Manipur shortly as the state legislators including tourism minister TN Haokip and sports minister N Biren have endorsed the campaign and signed the petition and with public support still growing. “ MP of the inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency T Meinya has also agreed to support our cause and has further arranged for the members of the local support group to meet the PM and the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram , we will serve the memorandum to remove PAP from Manipur by the end of the year†, Shivachandra said . He also elaborated on the mutual benefits of the state and neighboring Myanmar once the act is removed.
Activist of LOSGRO, Manipur Neerun Thongbam said that, a signature rally was held earlier this month to sensitize the public of the drawbacks of PAP and to collect signatures from the general public. “Face Book site has proved to be of immense help as Manipuris throughout the globe have become aware of the campaign through the site, even the European Manipuri Association have endorsed the campaign online†,he said.
The five member LOSGRO delegate comprising of core activist Rk Shivachandra , Telegraph correspondent Khelen Thokchom , IS TV news editor Rinku Khumukcham , former editor of Hueiyen Lanpao Ratan Luwang and correspondent of News X ,GA Naocha Sharma will leave for the capital tomorrow to meet the Prime Minister.
It may be mentioned that PAP restricts the visit of foreigners to Manipur and even the Manipuris born overseas who wish to visit their home state.
