The Week India - July 29, 2018

JULY 29, 2018 • THE WEEK 35

What issues did you raise with Home
Minister Rajnath Singh?
We requested him that if something
is being decided to resolve the Naga
issue, related to Manipur, whether it is
territorial, administrative or cultural,
the Centre should take the consent of
the state assembly.

Have you been told that the Naga
peace accord has been fi nalised?
Right now, we do not have any offi cial
information. But rumours are spread-
ing far and wide. A couple of months
back, the Naga interlocutor R.N. Ravi
gave an interview where he explained
the demands of Naga territorial coun-
cils. Manipur is a small state. We will
not be able to sacrifi ce further. In every
district, there is a mix of Kukis, Nagas,
Meiteis and so on. So, giving autonomy
in the name of any one will divide the
state. It is unacceptable to us.

Was the state government consulted
when the Centre signed the frame-
work agreement with the NSCN(IM)
in August 2015?
I was not in the loop then, but the
broad contours of the framework
agreement were communicated to
then chief minister Ibobi Singh. We
believed that whatever was being done
would be good for the nation and the
states concerned. But now the rumour
is that the territorial and cultural
integrity might be compromised. If this
happens, there will be an uncontrolla-
ble people’s movement with national
security ramifi cations.
Th ere are a few underground groups
hiding in jungles, waiting for a chance
to strike. We have intelligence inputs
that they are keeping a close watch
and the Manipuri youth will join the
movements. We cannot allow another
people’s struggle to take place.

Don’t you think the government

should hold peace talks with all un-

derground groups?

Th e mindset of some bureaucrats in

Delhi is not clear. Some underground

leaders who surrendered with hun-

dreds of cadres and dozens of weapons

to hold peace talks were arrested a

couple of years back. If the under-

ground leaders want to come forward

for peace, you have to receive them in

a similar manner. Th ese things refl ect

transparency and commitment. I am

particularly upset with this attitude.

Have you raised this issue with the

home minister?

Th e home minister has been kind

enough to say that he will inter-

vene and see what they can do. Th e

NSCN(IM), which has killed several

Army men and civilians, is functioning

like a parallel government in its own

state. Th e people are suff ering as they

have to pay double or triple tax. Every

single vehicle on the highways is being

stopped. So we do not know what kind

of peace talks are going on.

On the other hand, leaders of the

United Peoples Party of Kangleipak (an

insurgent group in Manipur) are sent

to jail. Its general secretary Ningthou-

jam Shanti alias Chinglemba was

arrested by the National Investigation

Agency in 2012, when they came for-

ward for talks. I do not know the logic

behind it. It creates suspicion in the

minds of the people. In Manipur, we

are trying to take all the underground

groups into confi dence and the crime

statistics have come down remarkably.

Should the scope of the agreement

with the NSCN(IM) be expanded?

If we want to solve the Naga problem,

it will be better if we can also engage

other groups, of not only Nagaland, but

also Assam and Manipur.

Have you engaged with R.N. Ravi?

I have raised the issue with the home

minister, but not with the interlocutor.

He is doing his job. After I became

chief minister, I have met Ravi twice.

Th ough he has asked for advice for a

peaceful solution, no particulars have

been discussed with me. My stand is

that to solve the NSCN(IM) issue, we

cannot sacrifi ce our land.

Do you think it is time for Manipur

to repeal the Armed Forces (Special

Powers) Act?

Th ere is a suspension of operations

agreement in force with the militaries

of most underground groups in Mani-

pur. Today, Imphal has a buzzing night

life. A major part of the hills is also

peaceful. So I think it is time to remove

AFSPA so that people feel more secure.

We will defi nitely discuss it.

If the Centre pushes the Naga deal

promising that boundaries will not

be redrawn, will you agree?

Th e Central government may have

powers to take certain decisions, but

we are saying let us discuss it within

the state for a consensus to emerge.

But if the Centre still pushes it, the

Manipur government will not remain.

Th ey will have to impose president’s

rule.

Are there any demands you want to

put before the Centre?

We want to regulate the movement

of people coming into the state from

outside. We do not want an inner

line permit, but we need a regulatory

mechanism to protect the rights of the

indigenous people.

Was it a communication gap with the

BJP that brought you to Delhi?

We are not here for an agitation. We are

here to remind the Central government

of its promises. All my young legislators

wanted to meet the prime minister and

share their concerns. We believe in our

leader.

N. BIREN SINGH, the BJP’s fi rst chief minister in Manipur, has threatened to bring
down the state government if the Centre bypasses the assembly while taking a de-
cision on the Naga accord. Currently, he is camping in Delhi, along with 30 other
legislators, to present his case to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister
Rajnath Singh. Excerpts from an interview: