Imphal, August 23 2009: The Centre has categorically told the NSCN-IM that Manipur's territorial integrity would not be disturbed at any cost and "is sacrosanct" .

This was disclosed by Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai to a few mediapersons today before leaving for New Delhi.

He was here on a three day visit.

He said that the Union government is preparing a proposal as solution to the Naga insurgency which will be handed over to the NSCN-IM for their consideration.

However, this will take a few months.

It is hoped that the NSCN-IM would accept the proposals, Pillai said.

The Union Home Secretary further disclosed that the Naga rebels' outfit had put forward some proposals.

The Centre is also drafting counter proposals.

The Union Cabinet will discuss and approve the proposals then place them before the Naga rebel outfit, he said.

Acknowledging that the peace talk between the Centre and the NSCN-IM has made "substantial progress," Pillai affirmed that both the parties understood the importance of Indian Constitution and the implication of the issue of granting autonomy to Nagaland.

Though the Home Secretary did not divulge details of the proposals being drafted, he indicated that there could be amendment of the constitution so that adequate power could be delegated to Nagaland.

The powers that might be delegated to Nagaland would entail cultural, social and financial aspects.

There is enough flexibility in the constitution of India, it can be amended if necessary, Pillai said.

Whether the NSCN-IM would accept the proposals or not will have to be negotiated, he said.

Regarding other armed insurgent groups in the North Eastern region, Pillai said, the Centre was always ready to hold talks with any group.

On the allegations that the Manipur Police commandos are ill-behaved and they most often stage fake encounter dramas, Pillai said, some measures have been put into place to make the Manipur Police a more disciplined force.

"I have received complaints about their (Police) functioning", Pillai told the mediapersons and added that the state needs to review the functioning, screen and detect the undesirable elements during recruitment.

He also held review meetings with Chief Minister O Ibobi and DGP Y Joykumar as regards the law and order situation.

However, the Home Secretary refused to comment on the July 23 incident of Khwairamband market on the ground that the incident is being probed by the state government.

But he said,"The Government of India is totally against any encounter".

"The situation in Manipur is extremely complex, so we need to take up both development as well as law and order issues together", he said and added that Manipur has great potentials in many fields including tourism, horticulture, fishery and agriculture.

He also expressed the need to generate more employment avenues in order to keep the youths from taking to guns.

The extortion needs to come down, he said. On a question on the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP), the Home Secretary assured that the Centre will review the matter soon.

"We'll review it and definitely try to liberalise it, so now you can expect a positive development very soon", Pillai assured.

He further informed that his ministry is all set to start fencing works for a range of 10 kilometres along the Indo-Myanmar international border at Moreh town within this year.

The Centre has taken a decision in this regard, he said.

He said, the seminars on development held at Senapati and Bishnupur districts were extremely useful.

The authorities could get to know people's problems and deficiencies in implementing welfare schemes.

Pillai said, the Centre will formulate an action plan in the next few days.

The state government would be informed of the action plan.

District level officials, civil society bodies and even to the village level would be given copies of the action plan.

Once the plan is translated into action, people will have immense benefits out of it, he said.

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