Shinde assures ‘black & white’ paper on GoI-NSCN (I-M) negotiation: Ibobi

Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi Singh Wednesday disclosed that the union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has assured him, before election to Nagaland was announced, that the Centre would provide in ‘black and white’ contents of the negotiations between the government of India and NSCN (I-M), at an appropriate time, on solving the Naga political issue.

Ibobi made the disclosure to media persons after arriving Imphal from New Delhi where he had been camping since January 28.

Shinde met Ibobi Tuesday in Delhi along with deputy chief minister Gaikhangam and other senior cabinet ministers. Ibobi said he reaffirmed the stand that any proposed solution threatening the territorial integrity of Manipur would not be accepted.

Iboi said the union home minister was yet to  disclose the contents of the negotiation involving Manipur.

Ibobi said that Shinde promised that the contents would be revealed and appealed for  Manipur’s cooperation for solving the Naga political issue since hardening of stance would lead to stalemate.
 When asked for more information on what he had assured the home minister, Ibobi said he told Shinde that Manipur supported any solution but not at the expense of its territorial integrity as it would lead to disintegration of Manipur.

 Other than this issue, Ibobi said people of Manipur welcomed any solution.
He also reiterated that the UNC’s demand for an ‘alternative arrangement’ outside Manipur was unacceptable to the state government.

Ibobi said the Manipur government was willing to grant full autonomy to the hill areas  under the Manipur (Hills) Autonomous District Council Act 1971 which has been amended from time to time.

Ibobi and his cabinet colleagues also demanded that Delhi permit Manipur to revive the Manipur Village Act 1956 not enforced since long. They said once revived, the Act would grant more powers to ADCs in all matters of development.

Meanwhile, Ibobi has appealed other states of the northeastern region, particularly neighbouring states, to respect each other by not indulging in activities against the interest of each other and by not interfering to the internal matters of each other.

 “We, the people of the region are peace loving people. Let us live in peace by cooperating each other in development in the region.