Source: The Imphal Free Press
New Delhi, August 07:
A strong delegation of political leaders from Manipur led by the Union minister of state for food processing Th Chaoba Singh called on the Union minister of state for home affairs ID Swami this evening at 4 pm in the latter's office at the North Block to hold discussions on various matters relating to the Manipur situation.
The Delegation comprising the Union minsiter of state Th Chaoba Singh, Dr L Chandramani Singh, Dr H Borobabu Singh, H Lokhon Singh, C Doungcl, S Bira Singh, A Biren Singh, Songchinkhup, K Ranjit Singh, M Hemanta Singh, Th Bira Singh, H.Sanayaima Singh, O Joy Singh and Hangkhanlian, further drew the attention of the MOS for home affairs to the misunderstandings created in the minds of the hill people particularly those belonging to Naga tribes in the aftermath of the cease-fire extension review.
They expressed their concern over the present trend of growing bitter relations among the communities in Manipur in general and the Nagas and Meiteis in particular.
The growing misunderstanding needs to be removed immediately before it is too late so as to restore the age-old tradition of co-existence and communal harmony in the once peaceful state.
But, they claimed such a normal situation could only be restored through a hard and effective political process with all the elected representatives of both the hills and valley working together to convince the people in their respective Constituencies.
However, they added, the dissolution of the Manipur Assembly and bringing the state under the.
Central Rule will not help solve the problem being faced by the state and it will rather escalate the situation and widen the growing emotional gap between the Nagas and the Meiteis.
Besides, they expressed their fear of the people being misguided by some anti-national and vested interests to weaken the threat of national integration.
The Delegation, therefore urged upon the Minster of State for Home ID Swami to defer the idea of dissolving the Manipur House as the state needs to restore communal harmony and better understanding between the different communities living in the strife-torn Manipur as before.
The members of the Delegation, in one voice, further requested ID Swami to make an arrangement to release the students and other protestors now in jail who were arrested during the recent mass agitation launched against the extension of cease-fire into Manipur.
They are not criminal or bad characters.
They, like other protesters took part in the mass agitation and whatever happened during the agitation was caused by the public uprising and mob.
The students and other public leaders who were arrested during the agitation had no bad intentions but took part in the mass agitation, they added.