Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 25:
Toeing the line of Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, former Union Defence Minister and president of Janata Dal (United), George Fernandes today said that the plebiscite proposal floated by the proscribed UNLF to solve the conflict situation in Manipur cannot be accepted as it is not allowed by the Indian Constitution.
The UNLF had floated the plebiscite proposal under the supervision of the United Nations.
The outfit maintained that since the Indian Government has ruled out sovereignty in any dialogue, plebiscite is the best option to let the people decide their own future.
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Imphal today, the former Union Defence Minister said that since the Indian Constitution does not have any provision to conduct a plebiscite, it cannot be done so.
Everything can be worked out under the framework of the Indian Constitution, but when demands like plebiscite is floated then the only way to conduct such an exercise will be possible only by amending the Constitution first, Fernandes explained.
Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his one day visit to the State to interact with troops had informed the media that the plebiscite proposal 'is impossible.' On his visit to Manipur Fernandes said, 'I have come here to meet my old friends and party colleagues and to revamp the party ahead of the upcoming Assembly election.' A discussion held with State party leaders in this connection yesterday was fruitful, he said and observed that the situation was by and large peaceful in the State.
The JD (U) is progressing smoothly, he said and expressed hope that everything will go off fine in the future too.
On being informed that a large number of political heavy weights have joined the NCP, mostly from the BJP, the JD (U) leader said, 'That is the concern of the BJP and we have nothing to say on it.' To a query, Fernandes replied that it would be premature to say how many candidates the JD (U) will field in the next Assembly elections.
Everything will be decided at the appropriate time, he added.
Touching on other subjects, the former Minister opined that the current peace talk between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) will bear fruits.
He however admitted that the matter is very sensitive.
When pressed whether the talk will lead to the disintegration of the territorial integrity of the States in the North East region, Fernandes said, 'I believe in safeguarding the territories of the region, but the territorial integrity of the Nation should not be compromised.' Fernandes tactfully declined to comment outrightly on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act but observed that the matter has to be dealt with very cautiously.
The former also took jabs at the Congress and the Left parties dubbing them the 'biggest liars' on earth.