New Delhi: A 15-member Congress delegation from Manipur has reached New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over their concern involving Naga peace accord.
As Centre is all set to formally announce the Naga peace accord any time soon, the delegation led by former Manipur Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi Singh sought an appointment to meet Modi and Shah.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Meghachandra Singh a sitting legislature from Manipur and spokesperson of Congress said that they are afraid over the territorial integrity of Manipur.
"We are afraid that there will be Greater Nagalim by comprising areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. So we are at unrest," said Singh.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has been demanding for a Greater Nagalim which will incorporate Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
In fact, NSCN-IM chief Thuingaleng Muivah (a Tangkhul Naga, a tribe) is from the Ukhrul district of Manipur.
"Our state is having Naga inhabited hilly areas which comprise 90 per cent of the state's geography and the remaining 10 per cent consists of Valley with Meitei people and Muslims settling there," said Singh.
The Congress lawmaker further said, "We also want a solution to the decades-old insurgency problem but that should not be done by compromising the territorial integrity of other states."
However, Home Minister Amit Shah has earlier said that the interest of other states will be kept in mind while signing the Naga peace accord. The Congress spokesperson said that the present Nagaland Governor RN Ravi once asked the former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for Greater Nagalim. "When Manipur had Congress government in power, RN Ravi (Naga interlocutor) met CM Okram Ibobi Singh in Manipur and asked him what's the harm in giving Greater Nagalim," recalled Singh.
The Congress MLA further said that the Government should disclose the contents of the Naga peace accord. "What is the harm of disclosing the contents. Earlier also we had accord like Assam Accord (1985), Mizo Accords (1986) but all of them were disclosed..so Government must disclose the contents of the Naga peace accord too," said Singh.
In fact, ever since talks started between Centre and NSCN-IM, the latter was demanding for a Greater Nagalim which will incorporate areas of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Also read: Delhi-NCR covered with smog as air quality deteriorates