What is the harm in giving AA to the Nagas : Shinde to CM on Oct 9
State Govt insists proposals be given in writing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 19 2012: "What is the harm in giving Alternative Arrangments to the Nagas ?" .

This was the question put up by Union Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh during the meeting held on October 9 at New Delhi, in the light of the political dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) .

This question gains significance in the backdrop of the reports coming in that an imminent settlement to the long, drawn out dialogue between the IM group of the NSCN and the Government of India is at hand.

Under the instructions of the Prime Minister, the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur were summoned to Delhi to take their opinion on the model of agreement that is likely to be worked out.

In response, the Chief Minister was reported to have asked what exactly Alternative Arrangements entail and the Union Home Minister was reported to have spelt out a six point proposal.

A significant point in the proposal spelt out by the Union Home Minister is greater autonomy for all Naga inhabited areas in Manipur, though these areas would remain within the boundary of the territory of Manipur.

Shushil Kumar Shinde, Okram Ibobi Singh and Thuingaleng Muivah

Under the greater autonomy clause, different budget heads for taking up development projects in all the Naga inhabited areas is envisaged.

Giving further details of the meeting with the Union Home Minister, the Minister said that Ibobi Singh had specifically asked that the six point proposals be given in writing so that the same may be discussed with his Council of Ministers.

The six points were however not elaborated and the Minister did not entertain a question on whether it is the Supra State model that was highlighted in the media last year.

Though nothing officially has been spelt out, a number of agreements were inked between New Delhi and the Naga rebel group under the Supra State model, the story which was broken by The Seven Sisters Post in 2011 .

Earlier in the day at 10.30 am, before the Chief Minister left for Delhi in the afternoon, the Cabinet Sub-Committee which was formed yesterday to monitor the situation arising out of the new developments, met to discuss what the State Government should convey to the Centre.

The four member Cabinet Sub-Committee led by the Chief Minister and consisting of Home Minister Gaikhangam, Revenue Minister Th Debendra and Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, minutely discussed the new developments and resolved that the State Government should put up a strong stand that no arbitrary decision would be accepted.

Any decision taken without consulting the State Government would not be acceptable, was the decision that was taken during the meeting today, said the Minister.

Significantly, though the Chief Minister had insisted on a written submission on the six point proposal mentioned by Shinde during the October 9 meeting, nothing in written has been forwarded to the State Government till date.

Meanwhile Home Minister Gaikhangam, while talking to media persons said that the State Government is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the State and added that he has faith on the Centre that it would not create rooms for more problems to resolve one issue.

Meanwhile a reliable source said that the Chief Minister's visit to Delhi may go up to 20 days and added that if the six point proposals contain anything detrimental to the interest of Manipur, he would cut short his visit and return to Imphal.

Taking the situation under consideration, the Chief Minister has however been advised to return earlier than the 20 days schedule.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee also made it a point to delve on the positions of other communities if any special status is to be given to the Nagas under any model.