AGENCIES / IMPHAL
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has urged the people and civil society organisations to maintain calm and peace till the Centre invites stakeholders for consultation and solution to the decades-old Naga political problem even as people in various parts of the State continue to stage ‘alert demonstrations’ to highlight the need to protect the State’s interests in connection with the ongoing peace talks.
Urging people to have trust in the government, he said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured the state government representatives during Sunday’s meeting that all stakeholders would be consulted before inking a final accord with the Nagas.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically gave us this commitment when a government delegation including the Assembly Speaker and ministers visited him on Sunday,” the Chief Minister told reporters here today.
Stressing the need to maintain calm till the Central Government invites all stakeholders for discussions before the final settlement of the Naga issue, Biren Singh said that his Government has full trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Chief Minister said that the same commitment was reflected in the latest public statement of Nagaland Governor and Naga peace talks interlocutor RN Ravi.
He requested the people of Manipur to have confidence in the State Government, adding that the Central Government was likely to begin consultations with all stakeholders soon.
Biren Singh stated that the State Government was willing to meet members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and other stakeholders before the consultations with the Central leaders. COCOMI is a coordinating committee of major civil society organisations in the State.
Urging the public not to be too apprehensive, the Chief Minister said the State Government has been working round the clock to live up to the people’s expectations. He pointed out that the Assembly took a resolution on protecting the State’s territorial integrity twice during the short tenure of the present Government. The Deputy Chief Minister, other ministers and ruling MLAs were present during the press conference.
Meanwhile, a six-member team of the Naga Mothers’ Association held a discussion with Meira Paibi, women groups of Manipur, here today in connection with the concerns arising out of the Naga peace talks.
Meanwhile People in various parts of the State continue to stage ‘alert demonstrations’ to highlight the need to protect the State’s interests in connection with the ongoing Naga peace talk