Fernandes endorses Koijam plan

IMPHAL, February 24: Defence minister George Fernandes has endorsed Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam's view on declaring unilateral ceasefire with all insurgent groups of the state. Addressing a newsconference here this afternoon, Fernandes appealed to all insurgents outfits to come forward for a political dialogue. Koijam, during his recent trip to New Delhi, had urged both Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union home minister L.K. Advani to declare unilateral truce with all insurgent groups in Manipur on the lines of J&K. "We fully endorse the Chief Minister's suggestion," Fernandes said. The defence minister, after attending the Brahmaputra Darshan programme in Arunachal Pradesh, flew into the state capital for a few hours. He also held a meeting with the new council of ministers. Fernandes said he could see a change in Manipur. This manifested not only in the change of government, but also in the political scenario. However, the new state government would face various challenges in insurgency, law and order and development, he added. The defence minister also said the Centre would extend full support to the Koijam government in meeting these challenges. Regarding the state's insurgency problem, he said, "Every act of theirs (the militants) are hurting their near and dear ones, and also jeopardising the future of Manipur." He said insurgency affected the new generation and appealed to the militant outfits to join the mainstream. Fernandes said he hoped that the new government would find out a scope for initiating dialogues with the militants. Fernandes parried a query on whether the Centre would extend the ongoing cease-fire with National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to other parts of Northeast, saying this depended on the home ministry. Replying to another question on the state government's demand for the restoration of troops to the pre-Kargil level, the defence minister said the Centre rather preferred modernisation of state police force to cope with the prevailing situation. Fernandes said the state police should be made equipped to deal with law and order problems and stressed on the need for strengthening the intelligence network. Fernandes said Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha was concerned about Manipur's fiscal problems. Sinha had assured all help in this regard, he said.