Raghvendra Rao
New Delhi : As the 66-day-old economic blockade in Manipur appeared to be heading towards an end, with the Centre firm on moving the first convoy of trucks under security cover starting June 19, the Manipur government has made it clear that it will not allow NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to enter the state under the present circumstances.
“After what has happened over the past two months, we will not allow Muivah to visit Manipur,” Manipur minister and government spokesperson N Biren Singh told The Indian Express. “Muivah’s proposed visit to his native village Somdal was not a homecoming for the simple reason that his programme schedule which was sent to us by the Ministry of Home Affairs clearly stated that he would hold public meetings in Ukhrul and Senapati. How could we allow that?”
Muivah, who is currently engaged in talks with Centre’s interlocutor R S Pandey, had wanted to visit his ancestral village in Manipur but was denied permission by the state.
Accusing the Centre of adopting a “soft stance” towards the NSCN-IM, Singh said the Central forces were acting as a “mute spectator” to the “free run” which this Naga outfit was having in the state. “NSCN-IM cadres move around in Manipur carrying weapons and recruiting fresh cadres. It is a very volatile situation.”
He added that despite having to pay exorbitant sums of money to purchase essential commodities, there was no anti-India sentiment in Manipur. “But if blockades like these are allowed to happen, underground separatist forces which have been lying low for a while may try to take advantage of the situation by whipping up passions against both the Centre and the state governments,” he said.
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