Rijiju assures KNO on commencement of dialogue soon
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

New Delhi, August 16 2014 : Defence Secretary of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) T.S.Haokip met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today in New Delhi and discussed the much hyped commencement of the political dialogue between the two parties in the near future.

Sources informed Newmai News Network in New Delhi today that the Union Minister of State for Home had assured the KNO leader to engage in the political dialogue soon.

"Yes, we got a positive response from the Union Minister of State for Home in this regard," disclosed a well placed source from the KNO.

Today's meeting between the KNO leader and the Union Minister was the first after the NDA came to power.

The current term of Suspension of Operation (SoO) ends on August 22."We have decided at least to give one year to the new government," stated the KNO source, adding, "We will be definitely signing for the extension of the SoO on August 22" .

According to the sources, KNO Defence Secretary T.S.Haokip has highlighted the failures of the previous UPA government to implement its assurances to the KNO.

"Recently, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh had told in the Parliament that the NDA will engage in dialogue with the North East underground organisations.

The same commitment was also given by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh but those assurances did not become a reality and so these were told to the Union Minister of State for Home today by our Defence Secretary Mr T.S Haokip," the KNO sources added.

"TS Haokip met Kiren Rijiju at South Block, New Delhi this afternoon.

Political dialogue with KNO, for which purpose a tripartite Suspension of Operations was signed with Government of India and the state Government of Manipur in 2008 - a good eight years ago - was the main focus of discussion at the meeting," the sources stated.

The response of the Minister of State for Home to the KNO Defence Secrearty 's appraisal was positive.

"He (MoS) agreed that SoO should not be an end in itself; that Government should be accountable and engage KNO in an honourable and meaningful dialogue to find an amicable political solution within the Constitutional framework of India," the sources added.

Appointment of the Government's interlocutor was also discussed.

The current one year SoO expires on August 22."With regard to the next extension due on August 22, the KNO stated its stand in the affirmative, i.e.to sign, in view of the fact that the present dispensation needs some time to digest the issues concerning KNO's political objectives and demands," the sources further disclosed.

The KNO sources then said that the Kuki public and the cadres have become very impatient as no political dialogue has not been started even the Suspension of Operation (SoO) was signed way back in 2008 .

"The SoO should not be an end in itself.

The Government must fulfill its obligation," the KNO sources stated.

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