MPP slams Cong Govt on border row
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2013 : Asking the State Government to initiate pro-active measures for protecting Manipur's boundary in the aftermath of the boundary fencing dispute, Manipur People's Party (MPP) said Congress leaders often stating that the issue is beyond the State's ambit amounts to promoting disintegration of Manipur.

Speaking to newspersons at MPP office today, party president N Sovakiran cautioned the Government of Manipur that ignoring sentiments of the general public in the wake of the boundary issue along the Manipur-Myanmar border and repeatedly clarifying that tackling the issue is the prerogative of the Central Government will not be acceptable to the people of Manipur.

Rather than stick to such lame excuses, the State Government needs to understand the people's sentiment by continuously exerting pressure upon the Central government for an early and acceptable solution of the fencing issue.

Apparently reacting against the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam asking political parties not to politicise the boundary fencing issue, Sovakiran accused the Home Minister of indulging in petty politics based on rousing religious sentiment and material appeasement with the ultimate aim to project himself as a secular leader.

Criticising the three Manipur MPs for their alleged silence at the floor of the Parliament inspite of being fully aware about the people's anxiety triggered by the border issue, he remarked that the three MPs are only interested in the safety of the Gandhi family and not concerned with the fact that Manipur's boundary would shrink if the ongoing boundary fencing work persist.

Demanding immediate halt to the fencing work, Sovakiran affirmed that MPP's commitment to protect Manipur's boundary remains as before.

Former Deputy CM and MPP advisor Dr L Chandramani, who was also present during the media briefing, contended that since merger of Manipur with the Indian union on october 15, 1949 the Central Government had been indifferent on issues posing threat to Manipur's territorial integrity.

While such negligence resulted in Manipur's traditional boundary sacrificed in the past, the present boundary imbroglio too is a fallout of the Centre disregarding interest of Manipur and its people, said the veteran politician who also conveyed strong opposition against the Ministry of External Affairs' three point proposal for fresh realignment of Manipur's boundary.

In case the Ministry's proposal materialises it would mean further partition of Manipur's border areas covered by Border Pillars 32 to 130 in Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul districts, highlighted Dr Chandramani adding that besides shrinkage of Manipur's boundary over 100 villages settled by the Kuki, Maring and Tangkhul tribes will undergo huge demographic alteration.

He also expressed that the Chief Minister conceding at the last assembly session that some border pillars could not be traced and that redrawing Manipur's boundary map would be inevitable confirms people's belief that the State Government lacks commitment in safeguarding territorial interest of Manipur if one takes into account development in the border areas of Manipur.

Questioning intention of the Union Ministry in sending the three point proposal to Manipur instead of raising the boundary fencing dispute issue to the Myanmar authorities, Dr Chandramani said the Ministry's proposals should be outrightly rejected.

The MPP advisor also clarified that neither was Cabinet sub-committee formed on the indo-Myanmar border issue under his chairmanship nor any committee meeting when he was a Minister.

Speaking at the occasion, MPP vice president H Manisana regretted inability of the State Government to precisely define Manipur's boundary inspite of the border fencing initiated about three years back.

He also opined that the Congress party not deputing its representative at the recent all political party meeting on boundary fencing testify that the ruling party is not concerned with protesting Manipur's boundary.

MPP general secretary Nabashyam expressed that enforcing 144 CrPC in Imphal East and West districts to prohibit protest rally or meeting in connection with the burning issue tantamount to facilitating disintegration of Manipur.

He also cautioned the Central Government that allowing the border tension between Manipur and Myanmar to persist would eventually have adverse affect on India's unity.

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