Manipur’s territory will be safeguarded – Biren Singh

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 8 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren on Friday reiterated that the state’s territorial integrity would not be affected due to the final settlement of the Naga issue.
Biren announced this while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a monetary aid distribution function under Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund at Chief Minister’s Secretariat soon after his arrival from Kolkata after attending a meeting of chief ministers convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Biren informed that he along with the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had a discussion with the union home Minister regarding the possible settlement of Naga issue in Kolkata on Thursday.
He said that the home minister was simply trying to assess the concerns of these three states during the meeting. But from his side, he submitted that neither he nor the people of Manipur and the present state government would agree division of Manipur.
He stated that he urged the home minister not to take up things that may disturb the oneness of hill and valley people who have been residing together harmoniously since time immemorial.
Stating that he had clearly conveyed that people of Manipur would never accept alteration of territorial boundary of the state, he said he had conveyed that people’s stand will be the government’s stand.
He also admitted that the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also conveyed to the union minister that they would never endorse an agreement which may infringe on the territorial boundary of their respective states though they are ready to extend full support in settling the issue within the state of Nagaland.
Thursday’s meeting with home minister was held ahead of chief ministers of states bordering Bangladesh meeting on border issues, he added.
The said meetings were held while the opposition Congress party in Manipur are demanding disclosure of the details of Framework Agreement signed between the government of India and NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015.