All political party team to head to Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2013:
Following the large scale apprehension over the possible loss of Manipur's territory due to the ongoing fencing work along the Manipur-Myanmar border, an all political party team is likely to head to Delhi in the first week of December and present Manipur's case in clear cut terms.
Though not official, a highly reliable source said that the team to be led by the Chief Minister will meet the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister and present Manipur's case that not an inch of the State's land should be ceded to the neighbouring country.
Towards this end, an all political party meeting has already been held and a drafting committee which was formed after the meeting has finalised the memorandum to be submitted to Delhi, said the source further.
Among others, the main feature of memorandum include putting a stop to the ongoing border fencing work, until joint border demarcation exercise is carried out, said the source.
The memorandum has suggested the demarcation be conducted by officials from both Manipur and Myanmar.
An advance team will be sent to fix the appointments with the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and External Affairs Minister, said the source underlining the point that the State Government has taken the issue seriously.
The visit of the all political party team to Delhi had to be deferred due to the upcoming State Sangai Tourism Festival which is scheduled to be held from November 21 to 30, added the source.
Significantly, the BJP has already announced that it would not be a party to any future all political party delegates, accusing the then Congress led SPF Government of giving the go ahead signal to the border fencing though it was in the knowledge of the Government that Manipur would stand to lose large chunks of her territory.