Imphal, Dec. 23: A delegation comprising of leaders of major civil society organizations in Manipur called on the president of BJP Amit Shah at his residence last evening to discuss pertinent issues relating to the framework agreement between the Centre and NSCN-IM.
According to a press release, the leaders of UCM, CCSK and AMUCO apprised Amit Shah of severe implications if any resolution inserted in the agreement adversely affects the interest of Manipur during the discussion at the latter’s 11 Akbar Road residence in the national capital which lasted for around 30 minutes.
On the other hand, the delegation met home secretary Rajiv Gauba today and participated in a detailed discussion on the framework agreement. While allaying the worst fears of the people of Manipur that the territory of their state will be harmed as one of the outcome of talks between the Centre and NSCN-IM Rajiv reportedly gave assurance that the interest of the state will not be compromised.
The CSO contingent categorically told the BJP president that the interest of Manipur cannot be sacrificed in the process of thrashing out a solution with Naga militant group and that every new development concerning the peace talk should be made transparent to all the communities concerned, the release stated.
The government of India should respect the fact that Manipur has its own political and historical identity originating centuries back and the former should restrict all its appeasement policies within the domain of this reality, it stated warning that the acting in the opposite will never result in a practical and long lasting solution.
Abrupt declaration of any agreement without taking into cognizance the people and government of Manipur will trigger a tense situation which will be worse than the public uprising in 2001, the delegation foretold the chief of the ruling party in the Centre. The people of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam must be consulted before releasing the final draft of the framework agreement if the boundaries of the states are to be disturbed, it added.
After listening to the issues raised by the representative of the CSOs Shah promised that the matter brought up in the meeting and those included in the memorandum to the prime minister will be put up before the PM, home minister and all concerned authorities for prudent study.
