Bodies caution Centre, CM on Naga issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 10 2013: Insisting that Chief Minister Okram ibobi Singh should reject any move by the Central Government that could be detrimental to the interest of Manipur and its people, civil society organisations cautioned that any wrong move would prompt massive public upheaval in the region.

In a joint statement issued today, UCM, AMUCO, Hericoun, LIPUL and UNACSU expressed that the Central Government summoning Chief Minister Ibobi Singh in the backdrop of possible settlement to the political dialogue between the Centre and NSCN (IM) is not only a cause for great concern for the people of Manipur but yet another reminder that the people should remain vigilant to face all eventualities.

With the NSCN (IM) softening its stand from Naga sovereignty and subsequently pursuing the goal of creating Greater Nagalim out of Naga inhabited areas of the region, including Manipur, materialisation of the agenda with the Centre's consent would ultimately lead to chaos in the North East region, the bodies pointed out.

Further noting that move by the Joint Legislative Forum of Nagaland Assembly to resolve the pending Naga issue ahead of the Nagaland State assembly election and the Forum's assurance to extend all possible cooperation has also been endorsed by the Central Government, the joint statement mooted that summoning O Ibobi at this juncture amounts to notifying the people of Manipur that they should be prepared to protect the State's interest at any cost.

While it is still ponderable what conditions would be placed before the CM or whe-ther the latter would yield to pressure tactics of the Centre, it would be advisable that O Ibobi act according to wish and desire of the people of Manipur, suggested the bodies while asserting that any move detrimental to the State's interest would be strongly opposed.

Taking into account sensitivity of the issue both the Centre and the CM should ensure that Manipur's interest is not compromised failing which people's movement more intense than the June 2001 mass agitation is a distinct possibility, cautioned the joint statement while reiterating its call to people to remain on high alert.

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