Public meeting questions credibility of PM's assurance
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 26 2017:
A public meeting held today at Tiger Camp, Imphal East has questioned the credibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance given to the people of Manipur regar-ding the framework agreement.
The public meeting was jointly organised by UCM, CCSK, UPF and the Nongpok Imphal Loumi-Sinmi Apunba Lup (NILSAL).
Speaking at the meeting, UCM general secretary YK Dhiren remarked that the Prime Minister's assurance that the framework agreement would not affect the territorial integrity of Mani-pur in any manner was quite similar to assurances already given by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and MoS (Home) Kiren Rijiju.
Even though it is said that the framework agreement would not affect the territorial integrity of Mani-pur, many people fear that it may disturb the integrity of Manipur in one way or another.
Manipuri people have certain inkling that the two parties (NSCN-IM and New Delhi) have some understanding or an agreement on some points.
Referring to news reports published in some section of media based outside the State that the Nagas may be given political autonomy, Dhiren remarked that Indian leaders speaking one word at Imphal and uttering a totally different thing at another place was not something new.
UCM and like minded organisations have been demanding a white paper on the framework agreement but to no avail so far.
If the framework agreement does not contain any- thing inimical to the interest of Manipur as assured by the Prime Minister, what is the harm in divulging its details to public, Dhiren asked.
"People of Manipur will be convinced about the harmlessness of the framework agreement only if the Prime Minister's office bring out a white paper", he asserted.
Human Rights Initiative member Y Ratankumar remarked that challenges to the territorial integrity of Manipur started multiplying after Manipur was merged into the Indian Union.
The words 'without territorial limits' inserted in the Bangkok Agreement signed between New Delhi and NSCN-IM in 2001 literally put Manipur on flames and 18 people lost their lives.
Though it is said that the framework agreement does not contain anything inimical to the interest of Manipur, its contents have not been divulged yet.
As such, one should not be complacent with the Prime Minister's assurance, Ratankumar said.
CCSK secretary Jitendra, UPF vice-president Wareppam Seken and NILSAL president H Ibohanbi too spoke at the meeting.