Manipur CM wants centre to negotiate with all UG groups

Imphal, Febuary 13: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singli while urging the Centre to initiate political dialogues with all militant outfits operating in Manipur, has expressed the hope that the decade-long armed struggle by the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) will come to an end with the militant outfit signing a memorandum of settlement (MoS) with the governments of India and Assam in New Delhi on Feb 10. Talking to the North East Press Service at his office chamber here, the chief Minister who also holds home portfolio blamed the Centre for its failure to take any spade work for inviting the militant groups operating in Manipur to the negotiating table in its move to bring lasting solution to the insurgency movement in this volatile border state. The chief minister who had met the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister LK Advani in the national capital on Feb 8 and 9 has praised the centre and his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi for signing the MoS with the BLT saying that the agreement will benefit the troubled torn north eastern States particularly Assam. He said Bodo agreement will help to usher in peace, stability and economic development of the Bodo people, besides fulfilling their political aspirations. Asserting that the historic Bodo Accord, if implemented properly, will bring long lasting solution to the Bodo tangle, the Manipur Chief Minister said it would bring socio-economic and educational benefits to the people. Asked about the restoration of much needed peace in Manipur at the initiative of the centre, the chief minister who had reiterated his appeals to the insurgent outfits to come to the meaningful dialogues with the government at the centre said that there is also no preparation for the centre for announcing a cease fire with the militant groups in the state. He said that New Delhi should take up the required steps to engage alt the militant groups in a meaningful dialogue. He, however, expressed unhappiness over the fact that over 20 insurgent outfits are operating in this small state so that political dialogue with the underground outfits would be a hard one. Meanwhile, opposition Democratic People's Party in Manipur comprising of Federal Party of Manipur, Manipur People's Party and BJP has also welcome the signing of Bodo accord. Opposition leader in the state assembly Rajkumar Dorendra and president of the MPP Okram Joy Singh while stating that peace is the only way to bring solution to the vexed insurgency problems in the state urged the central leaders to initiate the political dialogue with the insurgent outfits in Manipur for bringing lasting solution at the earliest in the state.