rediff.com: Withdraw ceasefire, Manipur leaders ask Centre

The Forum of MPs and MLAs from Manipur on Saturday said nothing less than a complete withdrawal of the Naga ceasefire extension would be acceptable to the agitating people of the state and asked the Centre to recall all its functionaries.

"Even if the territorial integrity of Manipur is assured by Parliament, we will still not allow National Socialist Council of Nagaland activities on our soil."

"Parliamentary resolution is not sufficient for us, as it can be marginalised any time," former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam said.

The same demand was made by delegations of students, women and lawyers, which called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday morning.

Apparently seeking a recall of state Governor Ved Marwah, the Forum, which adopted several resolutions, also decided to press the Centre "to recall all the responsible functionaries of the state administration", Convenor L Chandramani Singh said.

Asked why such a resolution in Parliament would not be acceptable to them, he said, "The protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur will not serve any purpose if people are coming into the state to create disturbances."

Stating that they had sought an immediate withdrawal of the ceasefire, he said the prime minister was also urged to take steps to amend Article 23 of the Constitution regarding Centre's powers to change the boundaries of states with a specific reference to the Northeast.

Meanwhile, several women torchbearers defied the curfew in state capital Imphal on Saturday night and shouted slogans 'withdraw ceasefire', 'do not break up Manipur', 'we will not rest till withdrawal of ceasefire' amid tight security, official sources said.

Women torchbearers in hundreds turned out from nearby Keisamthong, Sagolband, Imphal market complex and Kakhulong area after sunset and gathered at different places of the town where the curfew was in force, the sources said.


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