IMPHAL Dec 17: Two cabinet ministers of the state have signed a petition to remove the Protected Area Permit (PAP) from Manipur today.
A global online petition to remove the act including AFSPA was initiated by the Manipur Association for Canada and followed up by the Local Support Group in Removal of PAP (LOSGRO) Manipur, spearheaded by social activist RK Shivachandra.
As part of the signature campaign Tourism Minister TN Haokip and Sports Minister N Biren signed the petition on the sidelines of the inauguration of an ecological park located at Laphupokpi in Imphal East today.
Minister Biren told media who accompanied LOSGRO activists that PAP has created negative effects to the public and the state government has discussed the issue.
He openly stated that the government is against the said act.
TN Haokip in a similar tone stated that since the beginning of 1990, he has been pressurizing the centre for removal of the act. “I am fortunately the convener of North East Tourism Ministers Council and and we have been assured that the matter will be looked into, they have been looking into the matter for the past 20 years.
The PAP has to go, it should be made visa on arrival to enable us to boost the tourism industry ,the future of the state lies in tourism “ he said.
Both ministers promised their co operation in the future for the removal of PAP.
Convener of LOSGRO , RK Shiva Chandra announced that as part of the global campaign , a motor rally will be held on December 19 so as to give awareness to the public regarding the downside of the act and further to collect signatures from all the districts of the state. The rally will also be flagged off fro Kangla Gate by sports minister N Biren.
A memorandum of the signatories will later be submitted to the CM O. Ibobi ,tourism minister TN Haokip and to the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister.
