Newmai News Network
Imphal | October 21
Slogans to protect Manipur’s territorial integrity echoed Imphal’s Keishampat along Tidim Road where Union minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy passed through on October 21 from airport to central Imphal on his two-day visit to Manipur.
People shouted when the Union minister proceeded to Imphal from the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport amidst the tight security measure along the Tidim Road from airport to Imphal.
When the Union minister passed through Keishampat area where an emergency public meeting convened by the United Committee Manipur (UCM) was in progress, a large number of people attending the meeting stood up and shouted various slogans, saying that the Centre should not make any move to distort Manipur’s territorial integrity.
Considering the sensitivity of the issues surrounding the peace negotiation between government of India and Naga groups at the moment, the state authority deployed a large number of police personnel right from the airport to Imphal.
“Long live Manipur”, “We stand for territorial integrity of Manipur”, “No ethnic based administrative arrangement”, “No territorial council in Manipur” were some of the slogans raised as the motorcade of the minister passed through the area.
Hundreds of people, representing various civil societies and organisations took part in the UCM “emergency public meeting on the peace talks between government of India and NSCN(IM)” held at a community hall in Keishampat.
Talking to reporters on the sideline of the public meeting, UCM president Sunil Karam strongly condemned the Centre for not initiating talks with "stakeholders" even at this juncture.
He claimed that during a meeting with the leaders of the civil society organisations of Manipur, Prime Minister Modi as well as interlocutor RN Ravi had assured of holding prior consultation with all "stakeholders" before entering the final agreement of the peace negotiation.
The UCM president alleged that the government of India intended to create "territorial council or greater autonomy" to the Nagas since the very beginning of the peace talks.
With apprehension of such outcome, UCM and other civil society organisations had repeatedly cautioned the Centre, Sunil held.
Reiterating UCM’s demand for a special session of the state Assembly before October 31, UCM president cautioned the MLAs that it will be better to act according to the pulse of the people.
"The special session of the state Assembly must reaffirm the government’s stand against any move that will distort the territorial integrity of Manipur and furnish the same to the government of India", he demanded.
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