TERRITORIAL BOUNDARY OF MANIPUR WILL NEVER BE DISTURBED: CM

Imphal, December 08, 2017 (DIPR): Chief Minister reiterated that the State’s territorial integrity would never be affected at any cost due to the final settlement of Naga issue.

The Chief Minister made the statement while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a function to distribute monetary aid under Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund at Durbar Hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat today.

It may be mentioned that Shri N. Biren returned to the State Capital from Kolkata today after meeting Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on the issue yesterday.

The Chief Minister informed that he along with the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had a discussion with the Union Home Minister regarding the possible settlement of Naga issue.

The Chief Minister said that Shri Rajnath Singh was simply trying to assess the concerns of these three States on the Naga issue.

From his side, the Chief Minister said, he told Shri Rajnath Singh that neither he nor the people of Manipur and the present State Government would agree division of Manipur to bring a solution to the Naga issue.

Shri N. Biren stated that he urged the Home Minister not to do anything which may disturb the oneness of hill and valley people who have been residing together harmoniously since time immemorial.

Stating that he also clearly conveyed to the Home Minister that people of Manipur would never accept alteration of territorial boundary of the State, the Chief Minister said that he also told Shri Rajnath Singh that people’s will is the State Government’s will.

Shri N. Biren further said that the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also told the Union Minister that they would never endorse an agreement which may infringe on the territorial boundary of their respective States though  they are ready to extend full support in settling the issue within the State of Nagaland.