With the Centre unwilling to disclose details of the progress being made in talks with NSCN (IM) leaders, who have long staked claim to the hill districts of Manipur for a settlement to the Naga issue, the state now grapples with a law and order situation spinning out of control.Anti-Naga sentiments are running high across the state with people taking to the streets to ‘‘protect Manipur’s territorial integrity’’. For the third consecutive night on Sunday, curfew had to be clamped in Greater Imphal. The government has sounded a state of maximum alert, following large scale disturbances during Thursday’s torch rally by the United Committee Manipur, the apex body of different social organisations. The UCM, which announced a unilateral state of emergency after the peace talks began in Delhi, has demanded that the Centre keep Manipur posted on the progress of talks. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has had to appeal to the UCM not to stage night rallies. He left for New Delhi today, leading an all-party delegation, to brief the Prime Minister and his deputy about the ‘‘prevailing sentiment’’ in the state over the issue of territorial integrity. While Singh has promised ‘‘all precautionary measures to prevent any form of violence,’’ his problems seem to have multiplied after the Manipur Peoples’ Liberation Front, a combine of three insurgent outfits, announced it would spearhead the fight for ‘‘protection of Manipur’s integrity’’.The Opposition Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) and the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) — a partner in the ruling coalition — have also closed ranks on the issue, warning the Centre against adopting measures detrimental to Manipuri interests.MPP president O. Joy Singh and party legislature leader Nimaichand Luwang are of the firm view that ‘‘no attempt should be made to distort the state boundary’’ in the peace talks . Calling upon people to desist from inflammatory remarks, especially against other communities, they have protested attempts to balkanise Manipur.DPP chief Khaidem Mani too says the Delhi peace talks should not have on the agenda any issue likely to pose a threat to Manipur’s boundaries. The DPP will announce its future course of action tomorrow.Former chief minister Rishang Keishing believes there are lessons to be learnt from the talks with NSCN (IM). Speaking at a convention on Panchayati Raj, Keishing said the Centre could not be wished away if the problem of insurgency had to be resolved. People of the state, he said, ought to apply pressure on different outfits to come forward and negotiate with the Centre.But the Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF) has hit out at political parties and their leaders for expecting people to take the lead.
