Manipur territorial integrity will be protected, says CM

Imphal, March 26 (IANS) Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Sunday the state's territorial integrity will be protected.

"It is dearer than my life," he said shortly before emplaning for Delhi.

Regarding the protest against the appointment of legislator Asabuddin as the Parliamentary Secretary, Biren said: "People have elected him and there is nothing I could do since he is a bona fide Indian citizen."

Biren said that he was going to Delhi to seek a whopping amount as developmental fund from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Despite assurances in public meetings by Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the framework agreement the central government had signed with the Naga group NSCN-IM on August 3, 2016, the outfit's leader Thuingaleng Muivah claimed on March 21 that the agreement envisages the "Naga integrity".

Unification of the Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh with Nagaland is a major demand of the outfit, which was founded in 1988 by the late Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.

Biren said: "As the Home Ministry has clarified the matter, there is no need for apprehension. Muivah merely claimed and it was clarified by the government."

He said that the territorial integrity of Manipur shall be protected and there is no doubt about it.

On Sunday, normal life was disrupted as a result of the 17-hour general strike called by the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur protesting the appointment of Asabuddin as the Parliamentary Secretary.

Biren said: "He is an Indian citizen who has been duly elected by the people under the constitution. He was elected pradhan two times before becoming an MLA."

The All Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation had planned an 18-hour general strike. But it gave it up the plan after a meeting with the Chief Minister.

The general strike has affected normal life in other parts of the state, including Jiribam, the home constituency of Asabuddin.