Source: The Imphal Free Press
New Delhi, June 24:
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said the center would expedite the review of various aspects arising out of the ceasefire with NSCN (IM), even as political party leaders from Manipur demanded withdrawal of truce extension by July 31 failing which they said they may quit the assembly en masses.
The review is underway and the process will be expedited.
Territorial integrity of Manipur will be preserved; Vajpayee told an all party delegation from Manipur with whom he had a two and a half hour meeting.
While assuring government�s assurance that Manipur�s territorial integrity would be preserved, Vajpayee referred to the unanimous decision taken at the meeting the leaders had with Advani that various aspects of arising out of the centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire would be reviewed.
Advani, following a marathon meeting with state political leaders, yesterday agreed to consider all issues arising out of the June 14 agreement on extension of cease-fire with the National socialist council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in which all Naga-dominated areas in the north eastern states were brought within the ambit of the truce.
Another meeting of Manipuri leaders with the Prime Minister would be held on July 8 by when Advani, who left on a three-nation tour today, would be backs home, a PMO spokesman said.
Replying to question after the meeting, delegation spokesman and former deputy chief minister L Chandramani Singh said if the withdrawal of cease fire extension was not done by July 31, we may be compelled to take some hard decision.
The legislators have already threatened to quit en masse if the issue is not resolved by then.
Asked whether the issue of restoration of a government in the state was discussed, Singh said it was unthinkable when the entire state is burning.
Stating that the delegation submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, he said it also put forward the ground realities and urged him to pay heed to the demand for withdrawal of cease-fire in order to douse the raging fire.
We also told him that it was very difficult on our part to involve ourselves in the democratic system in such a situation, the former deputy chief minister said.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by minister of state for home ID Swami, home secretary Kamal Pandey, Centre�s emissary for Naga peace talks K Padmanabhaiah.
Besides Singh, the delegation led by Union minister of state for food processing Chaoba Singh, comprised H Haokip and W Angou Singh (both MPs), Assembly Speaker S Dhananjoy Singh and former chief minister R K Dorendro Singh, Rishang Keishing and Radhabinod Koijam and 30 other MLAs.