NEW DELHI, November 19 (MIC): Union home minister P Chidambaram on Saturday categorically denied the report in the Seven Sister Post that the Central government is close to offering a Supra-State arrangement instead of Greater Nagalim as X-Mas gift to the NSCN(IM).
The Union home minister informed the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in a meeting here in his office chamber at North Block this morning at 11.30am that Union Home Ministry had no intent of an arrangement for Supra State Body for Nagas.
He further informed that the Union Home Ministry had not issued any statement to the press in the matter. Chidambaram was surprised to see the news report when the Manipur Chief Minister showed the press clipping of the news story., and said it was mischievous and baseless.
In the wake of the press reports on formation of a Supra State body for Nagas, the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh rushed to Delhi yesterday to meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister and INC President Sonia Gandhi. He met Sonia Gandhi before meeting with Union Home Minister. Sonia Gandhi was also surprised to see the news report. He could not meet the Prime Minister as he was in Bali to attend the 9th India-ASEAN summit.
In a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister regarding the ‘Supra State Body’ arrangement reportedly worked out by the Government of India with the NSCN(IM), Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh stated, “We have not been consulted in regard to any arrangement which is reportedly being worked out with the Naga insurgent group, NSCN (IM). We are concerned that if the aforesaid reports are true, it may lead to a sharp and widespread public agitation which may turn violent and have serious implications on the already complicated law and order situation of Manipur”.
Manipur Chief Minister reminded him that the State Government had repeatedly and consistently opposed any arrangement which would impact on the territorial integrity of the State of Manipur . He understood that the State Government of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had also opposed any understanding with the NSCN (IM) which would impact on the territorial integrity of the State as well. He urged the Government of India to issue immediate clarification to dispel any conclusion/misunderstanding which had been generated following publication of the above mentioned media reports. He was informed that various Civil Society Groups in Manipur were extremely alarmed leading to speculations and apprehensions among the people of Manipur State , the letter added.
He requested the Union Home Minister to consult the State Government before considering any understanding or arrangement which the Govt. of India might have been contemplating to arrive at with the NSCN (IM), the letter further added.
Okram Ibobi Singh also conveyed to the Union Home Minister that Manipur’s territorial integrity could not be compromised under any circumstances.
