The fate of Manipur: CM leaves for Delhi today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 09 2013:
Unable to give any more excuses over avoiding to meet the Union Home Minister at a time when the Indo-NSCN (IM) peace talk is about to arrive at a final settlement which might disrupt the peaceful co-existence in Manipur, CM O Ibobi has been left with no option but to leave for Delhi tomorrow to meet Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde following strict order from the Centre.
The strict order from the Union Home Minister came in the wake of strong pressure from the National Political parties based in Nagaland to bring about a solution to the Indo-NSCN (IM) peace talk before the commencement of election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly which is expected to be held on March 18 .
The five National Political parties based in Nagaland namely INC, BJP, AITC, RJD and NCP have jointly taken a resolution not to let the Assembly election take place until a solution to the present Indo-NSCN (IM) peace talk is arrived at.
A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Prime Minister following which CM O Ibobi has been urgently called to Delhi tomorrow.
The Union Government on its part is also trying to solve the Naga issue before commencement of the election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, fearing that the National political parties based in Nagaland might actually stay away from participating in the election thereby derailing democratic set up in the State of Nagaland.
As such, the visit of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to Delhi is very crucial for the State as the fate of Manipur would depend on this visit.
According to reliable sources, an unofficial meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was convened today evening.
The meeting minutely discussed what decisions the Chief Minister should take and what he should say to the Union Home Minister in his meeting with him.
Almost all the Ministers and Congress MLAs were present at the meeting and shared their views.
Prior to the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, the Chief Minister also met leaders of different CSOs, legal experts and senior citizens separately and discussed the stand he should take at this crucial juncture, sources added.
Sources further informed that the since the Chief Minister would be leaving for Delhi in the evening tomorrow, it is most likely that he would be meeting the Union Home Minister the following day, i.e.on January 11.It had been earlier made clear by the interlocutor of the NSCN-IM, RS Pandey that the Indian Government was keen on offering the 6th Schedule status to NSCN-IM to settle the Naga issue.
However, Chief Minister O Ibobi had also made himself clear that the 6th Schedule which could be a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur cannot be granted under any circumstances but he is in favour of greater autonomy to the ADC.
In all likelihood, during the meeting with the Union Home Minister, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would be making his stand clear on the issue and he would also be trying to explain the difference between the 6th Schedule and the Autonomous District Council to the Union Home Minister, sources added.