Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 05:
Under the initiative of the Governor Dr SS sidhu the Government has begun to chalk out strategy to enter into a peace dialogue with various underground outfits operating in Manipur.
Informed sources told The Sangai Express that the Governor had already begun exercises to start a dialogue so as to find an amicable solution to the insurgency problem.
In addition to constant touch with the Centre including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, the governor is informed to have written to the central leaders on the matter.
Declining further details on progress of the negotiation process, the source maintained that it is too early to predict any definite conclusion but is heading in the right direction.
When contacted a Cabinet Minister conveyed of the SPF government also engaged in hectic consultation to bring the underground groups to the negotiating table.
It may be recalled that reacting to the Republic Day speech of the Governor who mooted peaceful solution of the insurgency problem, the UNLF had opined holding plebiscite under the supervision of UN peace keeping force.
On the other hand, the chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told news persons today that the Centre is taking keen interest to solve the decades old problem through dialogues and had even begun charting out measures to begin the dialogue at the earliest.
Interacting with media-persons at Kangvai this afternoon, Ibobi describing the talks process as still in the nascent stage said divulging details at the moment would be inappropriate.
On what stand the Government had taken to UNLF's desire for holding plebiscite, the Chief Minister expressed that peace talks should precede all other conditions and only through negotiation could the final step in solving the insurgency problem be perused.
As had been done in the past, there is no laxity on the part of the State Government in exerting pressure upon the Central leaders to initiate dialogue with all insurgent groups operating in Manipur, asserted the Chief Minister.