Centre ready to hold ‘unconditional’ talks

Patil said the government was willing to ‘‘talk with anybody who is willing to talk to us’’— to bring normalcy in the restive state. The Home Minister was replying to members in the Rajya Sabha today.

‘‘If the government is talking to militants in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgents in Nagaland and Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh, it finds no problem in talking to insurgents in Manipur,’’ he said.

Patil further said Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh was trying to improve the situation in the state, and the Centre would not let him down. ‘‘We are giving the opportunity to an elected representative to do his duty, and if he fails, the nation will do its duty,’’ the Home Minister said, hinting at the possibility of imposing President’s rule in the state.

Security agencies say feelers have been sent to these groups — UNLF, PLA, PREPAK, KCP and KYKL — in the past but they have never responded.

Politicians in Imphal pointed out that it was time that the Centre publicly acknowledged the problem and tried to engage the groups in some form of dialogue. Most local politicians have some form of contact with the insurgent groups and they have offered to act as intermediaries.

While Meitei groups control the Imphal valley and the southern parts of Manipur, the NSCM (I-M) dominates the hilly Naga-inhabited districts. The Kukis have also been in touch with New Delhi as they face problems with both, Meiteis and Nagas.

‘‘There are about 17 underground groups of Meiteis alone, and some other Kuki groups are also active,” said MHA sources. Their demands also vary. If UNLF wanted independence for Manipur, PREPAK was fighting for expulsion of outsiders from the state. The KYKL’s wanted to cleanse the society of all vices.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today informed the Lok Sabha that the Centre was watching the unfolding events in the violence-prone state and plans to take ‘‘appropriate’’ action.

Jaiswal’s statement came even as Samajwadi Party MPs demanded a full-fledged discussion on Manipur developments. Acceding to the demand, leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said the date of the debate would be fixed soon.