TODAY -
Political parties meeting held without Opposition
Joint effort to extract assurance on integrity from PM mooted

Source: Manipur Mail

Imphal, October 17: The Congress led 20 month old Secular Progressive Front coalition government in Manipur is all set to urge the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to equally treat all the underground outfits in the north east region and push forward for "peace talks".

A memorandum containing nine charters of demands has also been drafted for submission to the Prime Minister who is scheduled to visit Manipur on October 29 and 30 after paying a trip to neighbouring Nagaland's capital on the previous day.

According to sources from the SPF government, regarding the most delicate and sensitive issue of territorial integrity of the state in the wake of the GOI-NSCN(IM) peace talk, the ruling front is also expected to urge the Prime Minister to give an assurance to the people to safeguard the integrity of Manipur.

Besides the Ibobi led ministry is expecting special packages to tide over the acute financial crisis.

Other demands of the ruling front include raising up of a Manipur regiment, a sum of Rs 300 crore for the capital complex project, national highways 39 and 53 protection and improvement, conversion of Manipur University into a central university, Indo-Myanmar border fencing etc.

Meanwhile the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who is the President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC-I) has on Friday convened a meeting of all political parties in view of the forthcoming visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Manipur.

However none of the representatives from the opposition parties turned up for the meeting.

The opposition parties are Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur People's Party and Federal party of Manipur.

On the other hand, apart from the coalition partners of the ruling SPF government, almost all the key members of the different political parties including Congress (I), CPI, CPM, Samata Party, JD(S),JD (U), NCP, Janata party, MNC and Democratic People's Party attended the meeting of all political parties wherein they resolved to submit a separate memorandum to the Prime Minister.

For this a drafting committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the former Rajya Sabha MP W Kullabidhu.

Former Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha has been made as its Convenor and the meet is rescheduled on October 25 a day after the final draft copy of the memorandum was framed.

Urging the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to completely lift the imposition of curfew in the night time the all political parties meet on Friday also requested the constituent parties of the Opposition Democratic People's Alliance (DPA) to extend their cooperation and support while apprising the grievances of the people to the Prime Minister during his visit to the state.

Former Chief Minister RK Ranbir also attended the meeting.

The Opposition parties today said tney were not invited to participate in the meeting.

The all party meeting began at 9.30 am at the Chief Minister's office.





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