Imphal, January 15: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh while assuring that the violence of June 18, 2001 will not recur this time, has warned that the territorial integrity of Manipur should not be compromised by the Centre to appease the Naga rebel group, NSCN (I-M).

In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, the Chief Minister said despite the assurances given by various Central leaders to preserve the territorial integrity of Manipur, if the ongoing Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks take up any move that might alter the existing territorial boundary of the State, Government of India should be held responsible for any subsequent fallout.

Ibobi noted that Manipur was a sovereign princely State with a unique history of more than 2000 years behind it before it finally merged with India in 1949.�Manipur does not belong to only one community.

It has been the home to more than thirty ethnic groups of people who have been existing in mutual harmony since time immemorial.

So any sinister design to disintegrate Manipur should be opposed even at the cost our lives,� the Chief Minister exhorted.

Asked his opinion on the state of emergency declared by United Committee Manipur, Ibobi said that it is to show solidarity with the people's strong opposition to any move to alter the existing territory of the State.

If rallies are to be taken out it should be done peacefully during day time, the Chief Minister suggested, assuring all possible help from the side of the Government as well.

He also appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony and eschew violence.

Reply to a question on the possibility of occurrence of a mass uprising like June 18, 2001 upsurge the Chief Minister said it was an unfortunate incident and assured that it would not recur while he is heading the Government.

All precautionary measures have been taken and security arrangement have been kept on maximum alert, he informed.

On the arrest warrants filed against Th Muivah, the general secretary of NSCN (I-M), the Chief Minister said that as long as Muivah or any of the leaders of the outfit pose a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur, the arrest warrant would not be withdrawn.

To a question on whether Centre has given any information about the ongoing peace talks with the Naga outfit at New Delhi, the Chief Minister replied in the negative.

However, he hastened to add that some of the Central leaders had indirectly informed that the real agenda of the peace talks has not been discussed.

The visit of the NSCN (I-M) leaderships to India is just a courtesy call and at the most a campaign to highlight the Naga problem.

On whether the Centre had been intimated by the State Government of its stand on the issue, the Chief Minister said a delegation of the All Political Parties would be leaving for New Delhi soon to meet the Central leaders on the issue.

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