Imphal, June 26: Mounting pressure for withdrawal of extension of the cease-fire with NSCN (IM) to areas beyond Nagaland, political leaders from Manipur today met President KR Narayanan in Delhi and sought his intervention to resolve the matter.

The President has been kind enough to agree to issue a statement to the people (of Manipur) appealing for restoration of peace and normalcy, former Deputy Chief Minister L.Chandramani Singh told reporters after the hour-long meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a statement the MLAs and MPs camping at Delhi reiterated that they are strongly opposed to any move to divide Manipur.

The statement received in Imphal tonight said the extension of the Naga cease-fire area without any limit is a real threat to the boundary of Manipur.

The leaders also stated that the centre had not consulted any political leader, MLAs MPs and the people of Manipur before it took the decision.

They clarified that their visit to Delhi has nothing to do with politics or Government formation.

Appealing to the people of Manipur not to misunderstand them the leaders called for peace and communal harmony.

Earlier, the delegation met top NCP leader from the Northeast, PA Sangma, and briefed him about the sentiments of the people of the region following the cease-fire agreement.

�I would urge that the government should do every thing within its command not to open the Pandora�s Box of �territory� even unwittingly,� Sangma said in a statement.

He said the cease fire between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India instead of bringing peace has paradoxically given rise to violence and fear, distrust and apprehension.

Even though the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have assured that the issues arising out of the cease fire should be reviewed and the territorial integrity of Manipur and other North East states would no be disturbed an environment of suspicion, distrust, apprehension and resentment has been spreading in the North East.

What is at stake is the credibility of the office of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, noted Sangma.

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