Imphal, May 18, 2010: Former Chief Minister and Chairman of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress, RK Dorendra has cautioned New Delhi that any laxity on its part in tackling the crisis resulting from NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuinagleng Muivah proposed visit to his native village in Manipur would be a disastrous mistake.

Speaking to media persons this afternoon, Dorendra remarked that New Delhi committed a grave error by giving clearance to Th Muivah to visit Manipur while fully knowing that Muivah has a political agenda for the proposed visit.

It was surprising that the Government of India overlooked the massive protest movement of June 18, 2001 against extending the geographical coverage of the cease fire between the Centre and NSCN (IM) to the soil of Manipur.

The Union Government, particularly Home Minister P Chidambaram should immediately revoke the clearance given to Th Muivah to visit Manipur and bring the situation to normalcy.

If he is not in a position to bring back normalcy in Manipur, he should resign on moral ground, RK Dorendra demanded.

Saying that a detailed report of the prevailing situation would be sent to central leaders of Trinamool Congress, the former Chief Minister asserted that the State Government should negotiate with the agitators imposing blockades on National Highways and come to an agreement in view of the untold misery caused by the prolonged blockade.

Otherwise efforts to bring in goods by air and along Guite Road which is much longer would only prove tortuous to the people.

It would be wiser on the part of the State Government to deploy adequate security forces along NH 53 and develop it to the status of a modern highway for transportation of goods along this route, RK Dorendra asserted.

He remarked that the Autonomous District Council elections scheduled for May 26 and June 2 would not be free and fair democratic elections.

The Trinamool Congress planned to put up 30 candidates in the five ADCs but pressures coming several quarters have forced withdrawal of some candidates.

Subsequently, only 10 party candidates are in the fray, he said.