|
Manipur Chief Minister offers fresh talks to Nagas |
 |
In a related development, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh sent a fresh invitation for talks to the state’s Naga student leadership amid frenzied speculation about the resumption of the highway blockade that tormented the state for 52 days.
The All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur, which temporarily lifted the blockade on August 11, is planning to join the Kohima rally on August 31, after which it might block the state’s supply routes again in collaboration with the Naga Students’ Federation. It has accused the Ibobi government of not trying to remove apprehension in the minds of the Nagas over the declaration of the anniversary of the 2001 uprising in the valley as state integrity day.
Though the student leadership has been requested to come to Imphal for negotiations, Ibobi is expected to be flexible about the venue this time. The Naga leaders had rejected previous invitations to talks because of the chief minister’s refusal to meet them anywhere outside the state capital.
The chief minister was scheduled to start his tour of the hill districts with a visit to Chandel, but changed his itinerary to meet the Zomi student leadership. “I will be visiting Chandel, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong district to assess the extent of damage to government office buildings by Naga students during their agitation. If they come forward to meet me during the tour, I cannot say no. I will have to meet them. If we stick to our guns on the choice of venue, there will be no talks,” the Chief Minister said.
|
