CM to womenfolk : Will resign if final solution affects integrity Peace talk with NSCN (IM) : Rally asserts stand of Manipur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 24: A mass public alert rally on the Naga peace talk, was staged in the heart of the State capital today morning, ahead of the final settlement of the Indo-Naga political negotiations, which many fear might compromise the integrity of Manipur.
Speaking to media persons after submitting a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister following the rally, one of the women leaders of Ima Keithel, L Memma said that Chief Minister N Biren has assured to step down and resign from his post if the Centre takes any decision which will affect the integrity of the State.
She further said that during their talk with Governor Dr Najma Heptulla, she (Governor) assured that the integrity of Manipur will not be affected by the Naga peace talk.
The Governor also assured that she will relay the voice of the people of Manipur to the Central Government and take all possible steps to ensure that the integrity of the State is protected, Memma said.
On the other hand, Memma claimed that Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured the women vendors that he will step down from his post if the Central Government does anything which will harm the integrity of Manipur while bringing a final solution to the Naga peace talk. 
The CM stated that all the political parties of Manipur stand united in the regard and they will urge the Central Government by going to the National capital and demanding against any drastic steps which are contrary to the assurances given by the Union Government in the past, she added.
Earlier today, a huge protest rally demonstration was taken out by a large number of womenfolk from Khwairamband Keithel, temporary market as well as members of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), along BT road to submit a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister.
Starting from the morning, a large number of womenfolk of Khwairamband Ima Keithel and temporary market staged sit in protest demonstrations in front of their respective areas holding banners and placards against any move which might compromise the integrity of the State.
Taking the situation into consideration, numerous police personnel of Imphal West district, including women police, were deployed in the keithel area to prevent any unwanted incidents.
After staging the protests in their respective areas, the womenfolk came out to the middle of the road at around 11 am and began the protest rally under the banner of Khwairamband Ima Keithel Potpham Phambising and COCOMI.
They marched along BT road towards Kangla western gate holding a banner with the words 'Public Alert rally on peace talk - Manipur Integrity gi damak cheksin khongchat organised by Khwairamband Ima Keithel Potpham Phambising' and raising slogans like 'Integrity of Manipur is non-negotiable', 'Government of India should not play communal politics', 'India must not break Manipur's territorial integrity' and 'Long Live Manipur'. 
Police personnel tried to prevent them from marching further towards Kangla by forming a barricade in front of Gambhir Singh shopping arcade which led to a confrontation between the police and womenfolk.
The womenfolk overpowered the police barricade and further marched towards Kangla traffic point. But from there, they were forced to turn back towards Khwairamband Ima Keithel area by police who put iron barricades in the middle of the road.
During the public alert rally, all the vehicles coming along the road were diverted by the police to alternate routes.
On returning to Khwairamband Ima Keithel, the womenfolk held a meeting with the members of COCOMI in an open space located between the two Ima Keithels and they later submitted a memorandum to the Governor.
The memorandum demanded that the Framework Agreement must not disturb or interfere with the unity and integrity of Manipur under any condition even if the Government of India assured that the geographical boundary of the North Eastern States will remain intact as well as demanding that anything which subsequently relates to the ongoing FA cannot be taken up inside Manipur without the prior sanction and approval of the State Government and its people.
Meira Paibis and womenfolk also staged sit in protest at Uripok Yambem Leikai today cautioning against any impact to the State as a result of the Naga peace talk.
On the other hand, Popular Front of India, Manipur State, Manipur Kabui Union and Reformist Students' Front (RSF) have also come out strongly against any impact on the State as a result of the peace talks between GOI and the NSCN (IM) and have assured all possible support to the steps taken up by COCOMI in this regard.