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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has condemned the violence that took place in Imphal on Monday.
Jaitly told rediff.com that the Centre should have kept the wishes and aspirations of the people of Manipur in mind while extending the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim to all Naga-populated areas in the Northeast.
Jaitly noted that in March this year, the Manipur government headed by Radhabinod Koijam of the Samata Party had adopted a resolution opposing any extension of the ceasefire in Nagaland to Manipur's territory.
"It is wrong to say that the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh agreed to the Centre's proposal," she said.
Welcoming the Centre's decision to extend the ceasefire with the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, she said a similar ceasefire should be negotiated with other extremist groups operating in the Northeast.
"By extending the ceasefire to only Naga-populated areas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the government is giving the impression that it is in favour of creating a greater Nagaland," she said.
Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also appealed to the people to desist from violence while asking the Centre to restore peace quickly.
Referring indirectly to the several rounds of political defections that had ultimately led to the imposition of President's rule in the state, she said, "We understand the sentiments that have angered the people of the state. Politics has sunk to a new low. Defections are subverting democracy."
With additional inputs from PTI
ALSO SEE: Ceasefire and Greater Nagaland demand are not related: Muivah Advani denies move for Greater Nagaland Koijam urges Centre to review pact with NSCN
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