New Delhi: In a significant move ahead of next week's talks, the Centre has expressed its willingness to accept the demand of a major agitating group in Manipur to lift the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) if the same was "agreeable" to all sections of the society.

A high-level delegation of Apunba Lup, an amalgam of 32 social organisations and groups in the State, is reaching New Delhi on Monday (Nov 1, 2004) to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, highly placed sources told today (Oct 30, 2004).

"The Government will convey to them that it does not have a problem in accepting their demand for lifting of AFPSA. We are willing to do it if it is agreeable to all sections of the society," the sources said.

They said the delegation, comprising 10-12 top members of the group, are likely to meet Singh on November 1 and with Patil on November 3 as the Home Minister will not be in the capital on November 2.

The group has already held talks with the State Governor S S Sindhu and other senior Government officials.

However, the sources said besides talking about the demands of Apunba Lup, the Central Government will also take up issues such as the group's positive contribution in maintaining law and order in the State.

The group spearheaded a nearly two-month long agitation demanding the withdrawal of the AFSPA following the death of Manorama Devi in the custody of Assam Rifles in the State.

While the two demands--one for the investigation in the killing of Manorama Devi and other for the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles personnel from the historic Kangla Fort in the State-- had been accepted by the Government, their main demand for the withdrawal of the controversial Act was not immediately accepted with the Centre maintaining that same could be done only after the situation permitted.