Dimapur, December 7 (MExN): A number of concerned citizens censure the Prime Minister of India Government of India for his assuring territorial integrity of Manipur state. A number of the citizens including former politicians and church leaders issued to the media a note today referring to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s purported assurance in Manipur’s Imphal to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur.
“In a related statement, Manipur Chief Minister Shri O Ibobi Singh claims that Nagas and Kukis are also Manipuris which is an insult to the two tribes who are otherwise living in the hills from time immemorial for which Shri Ibobi Singh ought to apologize for such irrelevant utterance,” the citizens said. The note was appended by President of Council of Naga Baptist Churches Rev. L Bizo, Lecturer of International Theological Collage in Dimapur Rev. Dr. Sumpi John, former minister TA Ngullie, former MLA Bendangangshi, former Principal of Eastern Theological College Dr. JH Thumra and retired officer NA Kasar.
According to the note, assuring to protect territorial integrity ‘especially at this stage’ is in total “contradiction to the commitment you have already given to the Nagas in the past wherein you have promised that the Naga problem will be solved ‘out of the box’ based on the “unique history and situation of the Naga.”
“Keeping this commitment in view, Nagas believe that such realistic steps taken by you would lead to come closer to a final negotiated political settlement sooner than later. It is due to this fact that the present talks has been going on since long between GOI and NSCN,” the note said.
Considering the “retracting attitude” of the government of India, “repeating to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur time and again,” the note said, “it will be pertinent to mention here that the present land occupied by the Nagas will ever remain undisputed as the land belong to them since time immemorial and therefore the question of maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur state is irrelevant and should not stand on the way while solving the protracted Naga Problem.”
The government of India is urged to “remain firm in their past commitment given to the Nagas” and to expedite the present peace process.
