Manipur JD(U) demands written assurance from Chidambaram

The Manipur unit of Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday demanded written assurance from Union home minister P Chidambaram that the Centre will not make a 'supra state body' for Nagas.

The Manipur unit of Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday demanded written assurance from Union home minister P Chidambaram that the Centre will not make a 'supra state body' for Nagas.

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"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.

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.

Home minister Chidambaram had denied media reports during a meeting with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh some days ago, official sources said adding that Singh had also met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the issue.

Tombi Singh said instead of telling Manipur chief minister, Chidambaram should deny it through a written statement or through the national media.

A local newspaper had earlier reported that the Centre was considering forming a 'supra-state body' for Nagas living in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Besides Manipur government, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments had strongly objected to it.

BJP had said it was a first attempt to form greater Nagaland as demanded by the NSCN-IM and and demanded a white paper from the government.