Imphal: The Manipur government would drop cases against National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Issac/Muivah (NSCN-IM) leaders, including its general secretary Th Muivah, if the outfit said it would not demand territorial disintegration of the state during peace talks with the Centre, Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said.

The Chief Minister, who was inaugurating the five-day Asian theatre festival on January 7, said the government and people welcomed the peace talks between Centre and NSCN (I-M) slated to begin in Delhi but were strongly opposed to any move to disintegrate Manipur while settling issues with any underground organisation.

Singh said he was prepared to relinquish his office if NSCN (I-M) leaders came out openly to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state.

Various organisations in Manipur welcomed the peace talks but said they would fight any move to disintegrate Manipur while settling issues with any underground group.

A local social organisation, the Solidarity Committee on Territorial Integrity of Manipur said in a statement that it would take out a huge public rally on January 8 to protest against any move to disintegrate the state.

Kuki INPI, an apex body of Kuki organisations, said there should not be any peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (I-M) before settling the problems of Kuki tribes in the region, particularly Manipur.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, Kuki Inpi president Holkholet Khongsai wondered how the Centre had invited a man (Th Muivah), who ordered killing of 900 Kukis (during Naga-Kuki clashes in 1990s in the state) for talks.

PTI