Imphal, December 17 2010: The Manipur People's Party urged the prime minister of India to discontinue the tripartite talk amongst the government of India, government of Manipur and United Naga Council which began on December 3 at Senapati District headquarter to discuss the UNC's demand for an alternative political arrangement for Nagas inhabited areas in the state.

MPP, the oldest regional party in North East India, said that it cannot remain silent on the recent holding of "most controversial tripartite talk".

The party president Dr Nimai Chand Luwang, in a memorandum to the prime minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh drew attention to the sensitive issue which might turn into the case of the proverbial neglected spark which might burn the entire house.

The PM was requested to take judicious decision to maintain peace in the trouble state.

In the memorandum it was mentioned that recent trends show that there was a sinister move by some elements to destroy the age-old ties of amity and oneness amongst the various ethnic groups of Manipur.

The attempts to disintegrate Manipur by integrating all Naga inhabited areas under a single administrative unit had been one of the most prominent moves inviting inter-ethnic animosity.

Going back to history, it was further highlighted in the memorandum that this is an ugly fall-out of a merger agreement between the Congress Party and United Naga Integration Council, then a political party of Manipur, signed in 1972.Some of the terms of the agreement were detrimental to the territorial integrity of Manipur.

It is still the "inspiration, strength and sustenance to those who swear by the disintegration of Manipur", the memorandum quoted.

In this regard, a letter was sent by MPP to Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi to declare this agreement of 1972 null and void to restore peace and normalcy amongst the ethnic groups of Manipur.

According to the memorandum, a move is underway by the Naga integrationists to carve out a Naga Union Territory or state from the territory of Manipur.

Expressing surprise at the blowing out of proportion of the status of a non governmental organization like UNC by the government of India, the party stated that the holding of the tripartite talk gave a wrong and threatening signal to the people of Manipur.

It said that in spite of the clarification made by the SPF government that there is no agenda to destroy the territorial integrity of Manipur, there is still suspicion of a sinister design in the talks to disintegrate the state.

Thus MPP take a strong exception to the talk and if the talk continues further, the party cannot but doubt there is a hidden agenda.

Therefore the prime minister was urged to discontinue the controversial talks which may invite unnecessary troubles in Manipur.

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