Newmai News Network Imphal | July 24 Former Chief Minister and Opposition leader, O Ibobi Singh today questioned on the report of granting special status to the Nagas under the Framework Agreement. Addressing a press conference today at Congress Bhavan in Imphal, O Ibobi Singh said that the people of Manipur have every reason to have apprehension as there have been reports that special status will be granted to the Nagas. “What is the meaning of it when the reports said that special status will be given to the Nagas even without affecting the territory of Manipur?” questioned the Opposition leader. Ibobi Singh then expressed unhappiness saying the BJP led Government in Manipur refused to discuss “burning issues” of the State in the just concluded assembly session. He said that the Opposition had requested the State Government to extend at least 2 or 3 days for so that issues like the Naga Framework Agreement, the Manipur University impasse and the Citizenship Amendment Bill could be discussed but to no avail. “We, the Congress party, wanted to act as a constructive Opposition in the just concluded assembly session but the opportunity was not given to us,” rued O Ibobi Singh. The Opposition leader then said that the Congress party does not have any enmity with any group. “We just want that nobody works to disintegrate the Manipur territory,” stated O Ibobi Singh. He also said that the Congress party also wants the BJP led Government to act or do the way the Congress government had done in protecting the territory of Manipur. O Ibobi Singh then said that the Congress party is not against the settlement of Naga political issue, “but our only desire is that the interest of Manipur is not affected.”
