New Delhi, January 20: A delegation from Manipur, led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, today called on former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury here to elicit their views on preserving Manipur's territorial integrity in the backdrop of peace talks between the Centre and NSCN(IM).

The former Prime Minister, whose Government had initiated peace talks with NSCN (IM), expressed the need to keep the boundaries of Manipur intact, Janata Party State unit president L Iboyaima Singh and Democratic People's Party president Khaidem Mani told PTI.

Iboyaima Singh and Mani, who are members of the delegation, said that Yechury said the Centre should take an uncompromising stand on the issue of boundaries of North Eastern States while settling matters with any underground organization.

The delegation would also meet other leaders, they said PTI.

Our Staff Reporter adds: Even as the All Political Party delegation started meeting Central leaders today, Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani today re-assured that the territory of Manipur would not be altered.

Disclosing this, an official source from New Delhi informed The Sangai Express that the Deputy Prime Minister who is currently on tour abroad had a telephonic conversation with Chief Minister O Ibobi today.

Though the conversation did not last long, Advani assured the Chief Minister that the territory of Manipur would not be affected, said the official source.

The delegation is yet to meet the Prime Minister who returned from the Andamans late this evening, said the source.

Though a specific time for meeting the Prime Minister has not been fixed, the team is likely to meet the PM tomorrow.

The team also called on AICC president Sonia Gandhi and discussed the likely fall out of the peace talk between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.

Meanwhile DPA leader RK Dorendra left for New Delhi today to join the Ex-Presiding Officers' Forum led by Assembly Speaker TN Haokip.

Dorendra is the convenor of the forum.

The Forum is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other Central leaders to present the State's case and dissuade the Centre not to cave in to the demands of the NSCN (IM) and dismember the territory of Manipur.

The number of resolutions adopted by the State Assembly to oppose any move to tamper the territory of Manipur would also be highlighted to the Central leaders.

Former Speaker and former Lok Sabha MP Yumnam Yaima is the chairman of the Forum while RK Dorendra who was the Speaker of the Assembly in 1974 is the convenor.

Speaker TN Haokip is already in Delhi to prepare the meeting with the Central leaders.

Speaking to The Sangai Express before his departure to New Delhi, RK Dorendra said there is reason to believe that the Centre will not compromise with the territory of Manipur.

However considering the situation and prevailing mood of the [people, it has become imperative to remind the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other Central leaders of the resolutions adopted by the State Assembly as well as the staunch opposition to any designs to tamper with the territory of Manipur.

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