Lok Janashakti Party demands J&K status for Manipur

IMPHAL: Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) has demanded amendment of the Constitution to confer a special status on Manipur similar to Jammu and Kashmir.

LJP State unit vice president Karam Shyam told reporters on Sunday that the party had submitted a 12-point memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding the application ofArticle 1 of the Constitution to Manipur among other things.

Singh received the memorandum from LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, who is also the Union minister for Chemicals and fertilisers, Shyam said.

The party has demanded removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958; Restricted Area Permit System from Manipur as well as introducing inner line permit system to restrict influx of outsiders to Manipur.

The memorandum also sought payment of unemployment allowance to unemployed youth aged between 25-39 besides initiating a programme for supply of drinking water particularly to the people living in rural areas, Shyam said.