Imphal, May 06 2010: Manipur chief Minister O Ibobi today refused to be moved by the persuasion of three Union Ministers to allow NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah to visit Manipur.

As a result, the State Government has been left to face any kind of eventuality by itself.

Chief Minister Ibobi was taken to New Delhi in an MIG-21 aircraft, specially arranged for his visit to the capital city from Imphal today.

He left Imphal for New Delhi at 7.30 am.

As soon as he landed in New Delhi at about 10 am, he met Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram in the Parliament annexe.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister AK Antony were also present during the meeting.

An agency report from New Delhi said that during the 20-minute meeting, Chief Minister Ibobi is understood to have told the Central leaders that if Muivah is allowed to go to Manipur, the situation in the state may deteriorate as people are against the visit of the Naga rebel leader.

The Central leaders are believed to have asked the Chief Minister to be cautious and take utmost care in taking any decision in this regard.

The Union Ministers are understood to have told the Chief Minister that the Government of Manipur would respect the consent given by the Government of India on Muivah's visit to Manipur.

However, Chief Minister refused to oblige.

It is not yet known what went on during the meeting.

Chief Minister Ibobi returned home at about 3 pm.

A State Cabinet meeting was convened at 4.30 pm at the conference hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

Spokesperson of SPF Government, Minister of IFCD and YAS, N Biren told reporters after the SPF meeting which was held after the cabinet meeting that the Chief Minister's visit to Delhi was mainly to inform the Centre about the true picture of the tension prevailing in the state, why the State Cabinet took a decision to bar Muivah from entering Manipur, etc.

The Chief Minister informed the three Union Ministers that the decision taken by the State Cabinet can not and would not be reversed.

Minister Biren further said that a meeting of the SPF legislature party was also held after the Cabinet meeting.

At that meeting also, the present situation of law and order was discussed minutely.

After the two meetings, Chief Minister Ibobi called the GOC of 57 Mtn Divn and top officials of IG AR (South) and held discussions along with DGP Manipur Y Joykumar.

The Spokesperson told the reporters that the officials of AR and Army have agreed to assist the state security force in maintaining law and order situation.

He said, the Army and AR have agreed to deploy Army and AR personnel in Senapati district.

Comment