Manipur People Do Not Deserve Ambiguity, Says MeghachandraImphal: Manipur Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra Singh has asked the Centre to clarify whether there is any proposal for border adjustments or territory exchanges with Myanmar, and whether any such initiative will affect the state.In a post on X, the Congress MLA of Wangkhem assembly constituency criticised recent remarks by ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on the ongoing border talks with Myanmar, saying they caused ambiguity instead of giving answers on a sensitive issue. His comments follow Jaiswal’s statement that India and Myanmar are discussing unresolved border sections.Meghachandra sought transparency from the Centre over the reported India-Myanmar discussions concerning the undemarcated international boundary along Manipur, saying the recent statement by the MEA “created more questions than answers.”“On an issue as sensitive as the international boundary and the territorial integrity of Manipur, the people deserved clarity rather than ambiguity,” he said.The Congress MLA asked whether the Centre was considering exchanging or adjusting any territory with Myanmar and which villages or areas could be affected. He also sought to know whether the Manipur govt, local representatives, traditional institutions and residents of border areas were consulted.He said the MEA should categorically deny reports of any proposed border adjustment or exchange of territory if no such plan existed. If discussions were underway, the Centre should disclose their scope, objectives and safeguards to prevent speculation and public anxiety, he added.Meghachandra urged the Centre to come clean if there was any proposal involving adjustment of the international boundary or exchange of territory. Questioning the Centre’s silence, he asked whether the govt was considering any exchange or adjustment of land with Myanmar and which villages or areas could be affected. He also sought to know whether the Manipur govt, local representatives, traditional institutions and border residents were consulted. He also asked whether Parliament and people of Manipur would be informed before any final decision was taken.He said Manipur suffered immensely in recent years and that any decision affecting its international boundary should not be taken behind closed doors. He urged the Centre to assure that no part of India’s territory would be surrendered without following the constitutional process, parliamentary scrutiny and consultation with the people of Manipur.
