Cautioning to the dealing of the problems relating to NSCN-IM, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had warned the India Government from creating multiple problems while resolving the issues of one particular group. Speaking at the 69th Independence Day celebration at 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles parade ground on August 15, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the state government is in dilemma whether to welcome the peace accord signed between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India or not, as the state government was kept in complete darkness on the content of the agreement.
“ The problem of NSCN-IM is the problem for all of us in the region and we have been looking forward for a lasting solution to their problems, but while solving the problem let us not create multiple problems”, Okram Ibobi said.
Regarding the apprehension about the disintegration of Manipur territorial integrity the Chief Minister said that no super powers of the world can disintegrate Manipur.
“Let us forget about India Government, even the world super power cannot disintegrate Manipur” Okram Ibobi said.
He further added that if some people think of disintegrating Manipur then they have to first kill all the nearly 28 lakhs population inhabiting in the state either by bombing or by bull dozing or unless they will never success in doing so.
The Chief Minister further said that during the last 10 years the state government was always consulted by the then Union Ministers P Chindambaram and then Sushilkumar Shinde through the then interlocutor RS Pandey to any development to the issues of NSCN-IM. In those meeting the Union government proposed for a ‘Statutory Pan Naga Body’ in Naga Inhabited areas Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh at which the state government has strongly objected.
The term statutory Pan Naga Body was interpreted more like a Naga Hoho with aims to develop Naga Culture, traditions, customary, religion, education and Language. Okram Ibobi said that he had strongly objected such term as ‘statutory’ as there is no need for any constitutional binding as well as any needs for enactment of a new act.
On the NSCN-IM demands for a separate flag and emblem, the chief minister said that if each and every community in the state started demanding the same then where will be Manipur.
The Chief Minister further clarified that he met RN Ravi only on three occasion and that too not relating to the signing of the so called peace accord.
“First it was on April 27, 2015 at Sardar Patel Marg, Manipur Bhavan, New Delhi and it was just his courtesy call after he was appointed as the interlocutor by the government of India, Second it was at the aftermath of the June 4 Chandel ambush to Indian army by militants and later after the signing of the agreement on August 8 at the residence of Home Minister”, Ibobi said.
He added that he never talk about the agreement with RN Ravi for 12 or more times as reported in Telegraph newspaper.
