New Delhi, July 10: A delegation of the Manipur MPs and MLAs Forum who are currently in Delhi to pressurize the centre for complete withdrawal of the centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire extension to Manipur and other North Eastern states called on the opposition leader, in the Lok Sabha and President of the Indian National Congress Mrs Sonia Gandhi this afternoon at her 10, Janpath residence.

The delegation apprised Mrs Gandhi of the unabated public uprisings in the state who are not contended with a mere assurance of the Prime Minister to review the ceasefire extension to Manipur and other states in the region.

The delegation briefed her about the ground reality of the crisis arising out of the centre's decision to extend the ceasefire "without territorial limits." After hearing the delegation attentively, Mrs Gandhi told the elected representatives that she stands to the assurance given by the Prime Minister to review the decision of the ceasefire extension, a press release faxed here from the Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi said today.

The release said that Mrs Gandhi further informed the delegation that she is seized of the situation arising out of the ceasefire extension agreement and that her party has already made clear its stand against the centre's decision to extend the centre-Naga ceasefire without territorial limits and in support of the Manipuri people's demand for revocation of the agreement.

She further told the delegation that a 9-member high power team is being sent to Manipur and other states in the North East to study the ground reality.

The Manipur leaders who called on the Congress President include Mr W Nipamacha Singh, Dr S Dhananjoy Singh, Dr L Chandramani Singh, O Joy Singh, H Borobabu Singh, P Achou Singh, H Hemanta Singh, Kh Loken Singh, K Ranjit Singh, H Lokhon Singh, N Nimai Singh and W Angou Singh (MP Rajya Sabha), the press release informed.

Later in the late afternoon, the Speaker Dr S Dhananjoy Singh and Dr L Chandramani Singh representing the forum met the Union Minister for Power and leader of the Shiv Sena, Mr Suresh Prabhu to seek his and his party's support to their demand for withdrawal of the decision to extend the centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire beyond Nagaland.

The two leaders conveyed to him the anguish and apprehension of the people of Manipur consequent to the centre's agreement with the NSCN (IM) to extend the on-going ceasefire to Manipur and other state in the region, the press release said.

Mr Suresh Prabhu who paid patient hearing to the emotional and sentimental expressions of the two leaders, said that he too, is very much with the people of Manipur and assured of all possible helps and support to the controversial decision of the centre.

Mr Suresh Prabhu also assured the two leaders that he would fix a meeting with the Shiv Sena supremo Mr Bal Thakaray to apprise him of the ground reality and to find a favorable solution to the Manipur crisis, the release added.

Earlier in the morning the forum held a meeting to discuss on the PM's July 8 assurance to review the ceasefire agreement including the words "without territorial limit" as the first positive step to completely withdraw the ceasefire agreement.

The forum still exerts pressure to the PM for complete withdrawal of the ceasefire agreement latest by the July end.

The forum resolved to submit another memorandum reiterating the demand of the people of Manipur for complete withdrawal of the ceasefire extension from the state.

The forum further resolved to appeal to all sections of the people of Manipur to jointly participate in the mass movement for complete withdrawal of the centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire extension from Manipur at the earliest.

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