Manipur PCC urges Modi and Ravi for clarification

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, May 8, 2018: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the interlocutor R.N. Ravi to clarify over the published statement made by the interlocutor on the question of Autonomous Territorial Council and Naga Integration ‘that would divide the people on community line’.

We welcome the move that the central government and Naga armed groups have finalised the substantive portions of the peace accord which is likely to be signed before the monsoon session of Parliament, said MPCC spokesperson Dr. Bijoy.

We heartily welcome that the accord would close the chapter of India’s oldest insurgency to a close. We welcome that a conclusion of the so-called Indo Naga peace talk will be brought soon. But, we are worried that coming up of autonomous Naga territorial council in Manipur would bring a violent reaction in the state, which is a concern to the Centre, he added.

Congress and the people of Manipur will not tolerate if any step taken by either the government of India or by any group challenges the integrity of Manipur. If the official version of Ravi expressed in newspapers is true, it is an open challenge to the people of Manipur; we strongly condemn it, said MPCC spokesperson R.K. Anand.

He charged that the central government is one sided, immature and discriminating and listen to armed groups denying the voice of unarmed people.

Ravi’s statement that would divide the state on communal line appears as a mockery to the people of Manipur. “Has the Prime minister allowed Ravi to make the statement? People of the state need clarification from the Prime minister and the interlocutor”, said Anand.

He cautions to listen to the voice of Manipur as it is a very sensitive state.

The MPCC reaffirmed that the threat to the integrity of Manipur, territorial, administrative, financial, cultural and political, can never be tolerated under any design of settlement; Manipur should remain as Manipur as it is today.