A TEAM of MLAs and MPs from Manipur met the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Polit Bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai at the party headquarters at New Delhi on July 13.

The Manipur MPs and MLAs sought to explain to the CPI(M) leaders the situation in Manipur, arising from the extension of the ceasefire by the central government with the NSCN(I-M) and the idea that it be made applicable to the entire north east region.

The CPI(M) general secretary reiterated the party’s stand, as spelt out in the Polit Bureau’s statements issued on June 16 and 19. The CPI(M) has unequivocally stated that it is opposed to the ceasefire extension to the entire north east without consulting the state governments concerned. The ceasefire’s extension without territorial limits would give rise to fears of infringement of the territorial integrity of other north eastern states, and lend a sense of legitimacy to the greater Nagaland demand.

Surjeet said the central government is solely responsible for the creation of the present situation in Manipur. The people of Manipur will have to be categorically assured that there will be no tampering whatsoever with the unity and territorial integrity of their state. (INN)