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During a meeting with leaders of political parties from Manipur convened by Union Home Minister L K Advani, a joint memorandum was submitted to the home minister urging for a review of the ceasefire expansion agreement and withdrawal of the clause 'without territorial limits'.
"The joint representation given by the political party leaders from Manipur will be considered by the central government and the various issues arising out of the ceasefire reviewed," Advani said in a brief statement after a three-hour meeting.
"There is urgent need to remove the misgivings in the minds of people and to assure them of the determination of the government to not disturb the geographical boundaries of Northeastern states," he said.
"Efforts will be made to have further dialogue through invitations to agitating groups to discuss the issue," the statement said.
Advani said that there was a need for a holistic approach to the situation as any conclusion would have an effect on other states in the Northeast.
Appreciating the constructive and balanced approach of the participants despite the immense pressure on them, the home minister said the people of Manipur had to be reassured that Government of India was not going to permit anything to affect integrity of the state or that of others in the Northeast.
The leaders were told that commitment to the Constitution democracy and peace would not be diluted.
L Chandramani Singh, former deputy chief minister and MSCP leader, who presented the memorandum, told newspersons that the leaders demanded 'immediate' review of the ceasefire agreement reached with the NSCN(I-M).
He said Advani assured them 'that the entire matter' (of the ceasefire) would be looked into.
Singh said there was 'resentment and frustration' among the people of Manipur as they felt that the ceasefire extension 'is a spring board for the disintegration of the state'.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that if the demands of the political leaders were not met, they might resign en masse.
The meeting was boycotted by former chief minister and president of the Federal Party of Manipur Nipamacha Singh, Chungkhokhai Doungel (Nationalist Congress Party), Communist Party of India member Parijat Singh and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader H Bhuban Singh.
Nipamacha Singh said 'the people of the state want immediate withdrawal of the ceasefire from Manipur and it must be withdrawn before the situation worsens'.
Pointing out that no central leader had visited the state after the death of 14 persons in police firing on Monday, he said it indicated their 'negligent attitude' towards Manipur.
"Had this killing taken place in Bombay, Calcutta or Tamil Nadu, they would have rushed there and settled the unrest immediately," he said.
Senior members of the All Manipur Students Union and All Manipur United Clubs Organisation spearheading the anti-ceasefire agitation also said their demand was immediate withdrawal of the ceasefire from Manipur.
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