Manipur Impasse: HM asks Nagaland CM to intervene

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18 (MExN): In an effort to ease up the ongoing imbroglio in Manipur between the people of the Hill districts headed by the United Naga Council and the Government of Manipur, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today called Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang to the National Capital to talk to the Naga leaders in Manipur to solve the matter amicably and at the earliest.   A press note from the Nagaland CMO informed that the Union Minister appealed to Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders in Manipur to call of their blockade and come to some sort of understanding with the Government of Manipur. The Nagaland CM meanwhile reiterated the demand of the UNC that the proposed tripartite meeting among the UNC, the Government of Manipur and the Government of India should either be held at Senapati, Manipur or the national capital New Delhi, which, it may be recalled, was rejected by the Government of Manipur which insisted that the meeting be held at Imphal, the State Capital of Manipur.   Nagaland Chief Minister conveyed the sentiments of the Naga people of Manipur to the Union Home Minister who gave him a patient hearing.   Manipur Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh and his Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who were also present in the meeting, agreed that a tripartite meeting should be held preferably at Imphal, but were agreeable to the idea of having such a meeting at New Delhi. The Union Home Minister also echoed this idea, but insisted that the meeting should take place at the earliest so as to break the paralyzing impasse.   Zeliang agreed to convey the sentiments of the parties present today at the meeting to the Naga leaders of Manipur after it was decided that the meeting should be held on January 23, either at Imphal or New Delhi.