Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, July 07:
As violence rocked Manipur, MPs and MLAs belonging to all political parties from the State today threatened to resign from Parliament and State Assembly if the extension of the ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) beyond the Nagaland border is not withdrawn by July 31.The lawmakers, under the banner of �MPs and MLAs Forum for Territorial Integrity�, would be meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tomorrow and submitting a memorandum reflecting the developments in Manipur after the Central team visited the State, its convener and former Deputy Chief Minister Chandramani Singh told reporters here.
"The ceasefire will be effective for one year from August one and the bottom-line of our demand is the withdrawal of ceasefire from the territory of Manipur," he said.
Also present at the press conference were leaders of different political parties of the State including former Chief Ministers W Nipamacha Singh, R K Dorendra Singh, Radhabinod Koijam and Assembly Speaker S Dhananjay Singh.
The forum has constituted a coordination committee comprising 14 MLAs, three ex-Ministers, the Speaker and leaders of all major political parties with Chandramani Singh as the convener.
Singh warned that the lawmakers will involve themselves in a democratic and non-violent movement in the event of the Centre not accepting their demand.