New Delhi, May 14 2010: The Centre is unlikely to allow NSCN (I-M) general secretary T Muivah to enter Manipur fearing further escalation of tension.

Highly placed sources told this newspaper that the issue was extensively discussed at the recent core committee meeting of the Congress party, which was also attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, among others.

Sources said it was decided at the meeting not to allow Muivah to go ahead with his visit because it might trigger further tension and ethnic clashes in Manipur.

The question does not arise, sources said.

The meeting also discussed Union Home Secretary GK Pillai's report and came to the conclusion to focus on restoring the supply lines to Manipur.

Pillai had also tried to persuade Muivah to return to Dimapur, when he called on the Naga leader on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today made a scathing attack on the Union Home Ministry holding it responsible for the mess in Manipur, demanding withdrawal of permission given to Muivah to visit his hometown.

A delegation of the BJP, comprising Prakash Javedkar, Bijoya Chakravarty and Tarun Vijay, visited the State on Thursday to take of the situation in the State.

The delegation upon its return to the National Capital called on Chidambaram to appraise him of their findings.

Briefing newsmen, Javadkar said the crisis in the State was the creation of the Central Government, which unilaterally gave permission to Muivah to visit Manipur, without first consulting the State Government.

Making a direct attack on Union Home Minister, the BJP said Chidambaram has become an expert on creating problems and creation of peace into crisis.