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| Okram Ibobi Singh and Sushil Kumar Shinde |
Imphal, Oct. 31: Seven non-Congress parties in Manipur have demanded that chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh share information he has about the progress of the ongoing talks between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) with all political parties and public.
“The chief minister should convene an all-party meeting and share the information he has with the parties and also with the people of the state because the issue concerns the interest of the state,” Moirangthem Nara Singh, a spokesman for the non-Congress parties, said.
The demand came following reports of Ibobi Singh’s meeting with Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde twice this month to discuss about the Centre’s efforts to resolve the NSCN (I-M) issue and also the Centre’s reported plan to sign an agreement with the NSCN (I-M) next year.
The NSCN (I-M) is still insisting on integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam with Nagaland.
Shinde had admitted that he was consulting chief ministers of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh on finding a solution to the Naga problem.
Ibobi Singh visited New Delhi this month and reportedly met Shinde twice on the issue.
He has not made any official statement on his meeting with Shinde after his return to Imphal. He is also scheduled to visit Delhi next month possibly to meet the home minister again.
Sources said Ibobi Singh has been maintaining to his cabinet colleagues and Congress MLAs that Shinde had not shared with him any proposal of the Centre to the NSCN (I-M) as a solution to the Naga issue.
Earlier, Ibobi Singh had admitted to the media that Shinde had sought cooperation from his government in finding a solution to the Naga political problem.
“The home minister sought our cooperation, but he did not share with me any details. Without knowing the details I cannot give any commitment to the Centre or the home minister,” Ibobi Singh had told reporters.
Seven non-Congress parties, including the BJP, CPI, Trinamul Congress, NCP, Manipur People’s Party, Janata Dal (U) and the Janata Dal (S) staged a sit-in at Wahengbam Leikai of Imphal city to demand among others an all-party meeting to discuss the details of talks with the NSCN (I-M) and the likely outcome of the agreement.
“We will give the chief minister some more time to convene the meeting. If nothing comes then we will decide what to do. The government may have its own policy on the issue. However, the issue concerns the integrity of Manipur. So, we should also be consulted,” Nara Singh, who is also the state secretary of the CPI, said.
Stating that the Centre is believed to be planning some special status for Naga integration, NCP president Laishram Ibomcha Singh said Manipur’s three MPs should resign if the Centre moves any bill to amend the Constitution which could affect Manipur’s territory.
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