Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15:
Political parties in the State have strongly opposed the extension of the boundary of the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) Beyond Nagaland and appealed to the Centre to review the decision.
The parties have also asked the people to exercise restraint and not to indulge in violent protests.
The Samata Party legislature group in a meeting today demanded withdrawal of the Centre's decision.
It also warned serious repercussions.
The meeting was presided by Kh Amutombi Singh.
The MSCP (C) said that the party during a meeting strongly opposes the ceasefire extension and demanded the Centre to review the decision saying the ground realities as conceived by the Government differ in many aspects with the actual social realities at home.
While urging the people not to act in haste, the MSCP (C) said that the crisis at hand requires mature handling with due regard to the sentiment and feeling of our Naga brothers and sisters.
The statement said the meet further decided to submit memoranda to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
The Janata Dal (S) has questioned the relevancy of the contradictory statements given by Prime Minister Vajpayee's emissary K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN chief yesterday.
Pointing out that Nagaland has only 16,579 sq kms of official land, the party in a statement claimed that Muivah's mentioned area of 12;00,000 sq kms includes a vast area of bordering Burma, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
It said Muivah's dream will only generate ill feeling between Nagas of Nagaland and other residents of neighbouring States.
The NSCN (IM) should try to understand the significance of the three consecutive resolutions of the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed unanimously to safeguard the territory of the State, the JDS added.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (I) said it totally opposes extension saying the move was a betrayal of the Manipuri people by the Centre.
It has appealed to the Centre to retract the decision.
While ceaseless efforts should be made to find a permanent solution to the problem of insurgency in the North Eastern region, peace should under no circumstances be brought at the cost of the integrity of other State, particularly Manipur which for centuries has been existing as a State with a distinct identity, the party said.
A statement of the party said that the more than 2000 years old territory of the State is not negotiable and is not subject to any change by a political Constitutional amendment.
Any move to disintegrate it will create serious misunderstanding which will have undesirable consequences in the entire North East region.
The MPCC(I) further said that the NDA Government at the Centre, State units of BJP and Samata Party and MSCP, which is a partner of NDA should be held equally responsible for any eventuality that might follow.
The party further called upon the people of both hill and valley to remain calm and united at this hour of trail.
The Janata Party compared the move with disintegrating the State.
A party statement said that certain pro-violence leaders had given the name Nagas to the tribal people residing in Manipur.
It said the move by NSCN (IM) to carve out a bigger Naga area will not succeed.