Manipur govt should be made a party in the talk process between GOI and NSCN (IM): MPP

IMPHAL, January 12: The Manipur People’s Party has in a release has expressed its position on the ongoing talk-process between the GOI and NSCN (IM).

According to a release of the party, “There have been reports in the media that the Chief Minister of Manipur has been summoned by the Government of India in connection with its ongoing talk with the NSCN (IM).”

“Expectedly the civil society organizations that stand for Manipur have come out strongly to caution the Chief Minister not to succumb to the pressure of the centre to agree to any arrangement that would be detrimental to Manipur,” the release said.

“There have also been reports that SC Jamir, the former chief minister of Nagaland who had recently visited Manipur along with his Congress colleagues of Nagaland, had expressed his gratitude to CM O Ibobi Singh for his willingness to agree to the proposals of his team in regard with the ongoing political process-the talk process between the NSCN (IM) and GOI. The report could also raise certain questions and disturb the minds of the general public,” the release further said.

“Now, MPP would like to remind the governments of India and Manipur and the Civil Society Organizations of the region who are active in matters related to Manipur that the position of MPP on the ongoing talk-process between the GOI and NSCN (IM) is that the Manipur Government should be made a party to it,” it said.

“The fact that the talk between the two centres on Manipur makes it all the more mandatory from all counts - justice, social, political, propriety, legitimacy and democracy - for the Government of Manipur to be the first party to it before the talk goes any further. This position is accepted internationally. And therefore why Manipur should be made an exception to it?,” it said.

“MPP would also like to draw the attention of all concerned including the Governments of India and Manipur not to cause any disturbance in the delicate socio-political condition of the region and Manipur in particular by taking any decision based on ill-informed information and unknowledgeable Northeast experts,” it added.