IMPHAL, Oct 24 - Large numbers of people protested here today, cautioning that they would vehemently oppose any possible adverse impact on Manipur due to the �settlement of the Naga political issue�. The protest was held under the aegis of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity formed recently.
Initially, the demonstration was staged by women vendors of the Khwairamband Ima Keithel (women�s market). Later, people from different walks of life joined the demonstration.
Slogans like �Long live Manipur�, �Bring solution and not problem�, �We stand for Manipur�s integrity�, �Naga solution should not affect Manipur�, etc., rent the air during the protest rally, which began from Khwairamband Keithel. The protesters were stopped by the police near the Johnston School gate after a brief tussle.
Coordinator of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, Sunil Karam, cautioned that if the Centre went against the wishes of the people of Manipur, the State residents would be compelled to seek self-determination. He asked the Centre to remove any point infringing on the interests of Manipur within the next 10 days.
Karam also asked the political parties to stop hurling allegations against one another and instead concentrate on protecting the State�s territorial integrity.
Reports of sit-in demonstrations also came in from other parts of the valley districts for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Meanwhile, all important government installations and offices, including the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister�s Secretariat, have been fortified.
