Imphal: The Manipur unit of Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday demanded written assurance from union Home Minister P Chidambaram that the Centre will not grant ‘supra-state-body’ status to Nagas.
“The issue is a very serious matter as it is the first step to break Manipur and some other north eastern states to form ‘greater Nagaland’ following the demand of Naga militant organisation NSCN-IM which has been holding peace talks with the Centre for more than a decade,” JD(U)’s Manipur unit president M Tombi Singh said.
Home Minister Chidam-baram had denied media reports, which claimed that the Centre was considering forming a ‘supra-state body’ for Nagas living in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, during a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh some days ago, sources said. Singh had also met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Instead of telling Manipur Chief Minister, Chidam-baram should deny it through a written statement or through the national media, We will take up the issue in the current session of Parliament, he said.
Some party members would leave Imphal on November 28 to meet central leaders of the party to take up the issue in the current session of Parliament, Singh said. (UNI)