COCOMI refuses to bite assurance of Amit Shah
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 13 2019: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asserted that it does not have any belief in the assurance given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the State Government team led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh that the Naga peace talks will not affect the interests of Manipur in any way.

COCOMI further said that it is imperative for the Central and State Government to publicly define as to what specifically are the so called interests of the State that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are constantly referring to with the addendum that it not be harmed.

Speaking to media persons at UCM office at Lamphelpat today, COCOMI coordinator Sunil Karam said that following the meeting between a Ministerial team led by the CM and the Union Home Minister on November 10, the CM had announced that Amit Shah had assured that the State's interest will not be harmed as a result of the Naga peace talks.

However, the PM has been making similar assurance just like the Union Home Minister since 2017 but both have failed to define or clarify specifically as to what are those interests till date.

The interests that the Centre speaks of and the interests as demanded by the people might be totally different.

If such a situation arises, it will lead to serious problems later on, Sunil explained.

Demanding both the Central and State Governments to specify as to what these interests are, Sunil said that till today, the Centre has not made any disclosure of the contents of the Framework Agreement or the Naga peace talks.

Even Amit Shah has not made any statement than simply assuring that Manipur's interests will not be harmed, he pointed out, adding that as promises of the PM and the Union Home Minister are still vague, COCOMI has no belief in their so called assurances.

Sunil expressed desire for the Chief Minister to provide a written statement to the people of Manipur on behalf of the State Government, vowing to take full responsibility, if he truly has faith in Amit Shah's assurance.

He then conveyed that if the Central Government wishes to consult with COCOMI, then it (Centre) must invite the body by properly detailing the agendas as it is extremely important for COCOMI to collect the feedbacks, suggestions and sentiments of the people based on the said agendas.

Announcing that COCOMI will not lift its boycott of Sangai Festival unless the details of the Naga peace talks are disclosed, Sunil said that even if the State Government calls for a meeting with the committee, it (committee) will first consider if it is reasonable or not.

Stating that the people and COCOMI will not be easily swayed by some assurances pushed onto the State Government from the higher-ups to pacify the public, he reasoned that it is not the time for the CM to act in such a timid manner.

On the other hand, COCOMI assistant coordinator Ph Nando Luwang said that the committee will carry on its agitation.

Appealing for support, he urged the people not to resort to any action or use any words which will hurt the sentiments of diverse community living together in Manipur.

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