Naga Peace Talks: Ex-CM Okram Ibobi to Meet PM Modi, Amit Shah to Demand Manipur's 'Territorial Integrity'

Imphal, November 13, 2019:

A delegation of Congress leaders from Manipur, led by former Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi, will leave Imphal on Wednesday for New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, Union Home minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to pressurize them to preclude any negative effect to the integrity of the state from the outcome of the 'Naga peace talks'.

Briefing reporters at his official quarter at Babupara, Ibobi said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance that the final settlement of Naga peace talks will not affect Manipur and that concerned stakeholders will be consulted prior to the inking of a final agreement is not a "new thing" as such assurances had earlier been given

on several occasions.

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During the Congress regime in the state, Ibobi said, he met Naga Peace talk interlocutor RN Ravi on several occasions to discuss about the framework agreement signed in 2015 between the Centre and NSCN-IM.

Ravi also sought support from the state Chief Minister then while bringing about a solution to the protracted Naga political problem, to which Ibobi said he readily agreed.

"We are also happy to learn the assurance of Amit Shah for protection of integrity. However, non-disclosure of the conditions of the Naga peace talk has created strong apprehension in the state from the rumor about granting Naga territorial council or special autonomy under 6th schedule to resolve the Peace talk, Ibobi said.

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Tracing back to the history of the state, the ex-Chief minister said that before getting statehood in 1972, Manipur became a territorial council in 1947, then Union territory. While in territorial council status with MK Priyobrata as Chief minister, Manipur Hill areas Administration Regulation 1947 was enacted for development of hill areas. Village

Authority Act 1956 was also enacted by the parliament. The then Lushai Hills Autonomous district council paved way for creation of the present Mizoram state.

"Once the Centre agrees formation of a Naga territorial council as part of the conclusion of the peace talk, it will sow the seed for demand of a separate state in future", Ibobi warned.

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