Dec 08, 2005

Naga Council of Manipur to meet Central Leaders


With NSCN(IM) building pressure on the Centre to settle the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of ceasefire, a delegation of United Naga Council of Manipur will arrive here tomorrow to press for unification of Naga inhabited areas

With Naga NSCN(IM) building pressure on the Centre to settle the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of ceasefire, a delegation of United Naga Council of Manipur will arrive here tomorrow to press for unification of Naga inhabited areas.


The apex body of the Nagas in Manipur is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and will urge them for a political solution in the next round of talks between the Centre and NSCN (I-M).


"The delegation will have discussion with Home Minister Sivraj Patil on December 8 and will meet Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on December 9" said Mani Charenamei, MP from Outer Manipur seat adding that they will meet Prime Minister also.


In a statement in the Parliament yesterday, Charenmei also appealed the Centre for unification of the Naga inhabited areas saying "integration of Naga territories is not illegal and unconstitutional in the context of the Indian Constitution.


Urging the Prime Minister to take "visible" concrete steps towards finding an amicable solution to the problem, he said the 59-year-old Naga political movement might take ugly turn if the eight-year-old ceasefire breakes down.

"There is strong apprehension that ceasefire may not be extended if no concreate and substantial understanding is reached before the ceasefire ends," he said in the written statement in the Parliament.

Then current spell of ceasefire between Centre and NSCM(IM) ends on January 31, 2006.


NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had recently threatened to call off peace talks with the Centre if New Delhi failed to reach a final political settlement of the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of the ceasefire.

 

Source: OutlookIndia