Don't compromise Manipur's interest: CCSK to GoI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 21 2019: In the wake of Interlocutor RN Ravi's statement that the Government of India is keen to conclude the Naga peace talk within three months, Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) has asked the Government of India (GoI) to refrain from doing anything which may impinge upon the interest of Manipur.

Speaking to media persons at their Checkon office today, CCSK president Jitendra Ningomba appealed to all the legislators of the State, both ruling and Opposition, to analyse the recent developments regarding the protracted political dialogue and take up necessary measures so as to avoid any untoward incident.

Don't compromise Manipur's interest: CCSK to GoI

While welcoming the progression of the political dialogue to the final phase, the CCSK president expressed keen desire for the political dialogue to arrive at an amicable solution at the earliest.

RN Ravi's statement that the Government of India is keen to conclude the political dialogue within three months has, however, created a sense of apprehension among the people of Manipur given GoI's marked shift in its administrative policy as evident in the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A and bifurcation of Jammu& Kashmir into two Union Territories.

GoI's dramatic shift in its administrative policy seems to tend in favour of NSCN-IM demands such as greater Nagaland, Southern Nagaland, alternative arrangement, pan-Naga cultural body etc, Jitendra remarked.

Pointing out that all the CSOs of the State including CCSK, AMUCO and UCM have been opposing all these demands of NSCN-IM, Jitendra reiterated that any solution worked out between GoI and NSCN-IM would not be accepted by the people of Manipur in case it infringes on the interest of the State in any manner.

Time and again, the people of Manipur have made it clear that any challenge to the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary would not be tolerated as demonstrated during the historic civil movement of June 18, 2001 in which 18 people lost their lives, he pointed out.

He asserted that there is not a bit of change to the collective position of the people of Manipur and CSOs regarding non-negotiability of the State's key interests.

Pointing out that Manipur is a common home of many small ethnic groups, Jitendra said that any solution which favours a particular ethnic group would not be accepted by a large majority of people.

Any ethnic-based solution would be opposed and reacted strongly by other ethnic groups, he warned.

Noting that the people of Manipur have been staring at a very uncertain political future on account of keeping the details of the Framework Agreement a closely guarded secret till date, Jitendra conveyed that GoI leaders, when they were pressed to disclose the details of the Framework Agreement,, told CSOs of the State that the peace talk has been going within the Constitution of India and it would not affect the 'paramountcy' of Manipur in any manner.

Categorically stating that the peace talk and any solution resulting thereof should be confined within the State of Nagaland, the CCSK president urged all legislators of the State to keep a close tab on the moves of GoI regarding the Naga peace talk and take up necessary steps so as to avoid any untoward incident.

He also highlighted the importance of analysing minutely GoI's intentions and its manoeuvres with respect to the Naga political dialogue.