NEW DELHI, Jan 22 ? As the Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks resumed on Tuesday, Manipur upped the ante demanding a Constitutional amendment to protect its territory even though Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee assured an all-party delegation from the state that its boundaries would not be affected in search for a solution to the vexed Naga problem, reports PTI. Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh, who led the delegation to Vajpayee, told newsmen later that the Prime Minister has assured them that the territorial integrity of Manipur would remain unaltered while discussing a solution to the Naga issue with the NSCN(I-M) top leaders.
"We welcome Centre's peace talks with Naga leaders but the parleys should not be at the cost of territorial integrity of Manipur. The state will not give a single inch of land as part of Centre's (possible) agreement with Nagas," he said. Singh said the delegation told the Prime Minister that Naga leaders in the name of peace are trying to "invade our land" and Manipur wanted a constitutional amendment for the maintainence of territorial integrity of the state. He said the amendment should ensure that the consent of the legislature of the State concerned be made mandatory "in the formation of a new state and alteration of areas, boundaries or name of existing states."
In Article 371 of the Constitution, a clause must be added stating that "territorial integrity of Manipur as it existed on October 15, 1949 is inviolable", the Chief Minister said. Singh cautioned that a "wrong" step in the current Naga peace talks could lead to a law and order problem in Manipur. and the Centre should be "cautious" in its approach while continuing with the Naga peace process. Singh, who also met Janta Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav, warned the unfortunate incidents of June 2001, when there was a mass uprising in Manipur on the issue, should not be repeated.
The delegation had last night met Congress President Sonia Gandhi to elicit her views on preserving Manipur's territorial integrity in the backdrop of the talks between the Centre and NSCN(I-M). It also had a meeting with the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader H D Deve Gowda.
Meanwhile, NSCN (I-M) Chairman Isak Chisi Swu and General Secretary Th.Muivah today began two days of talks with a high-level Central team of officials voiced 'satisfaction' over the parleys they have had with the Indian leadership. "The talks have been positive. They will continue tomorrow," official sources said about the discussions today. The Central team comprised Special Emissary for the Naga peace process K Padmanabhaiah, Intelligence Bureau Director K P Singh and Secretary (Border Management) in the Home Ministry R C A Jain. The sources quoted the NSCN (I-M) leaders as saying that the rebels were satisfied with the talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other Indian leaders.