Imphal, June 15: Denouncing the decision of the State Government to declare June 18 as State Integrity Day and therefore a State holiday, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has asserted that it is a sign of extreme immaturity on the part of the Government.

In a hard-hitting open letter to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, ANSAM president Paul Langhu and general secretary Robert T Maram contended that the �tragedy� of June 18 was a mere fall-out of desperate reaction of certain section of the people instigated by some leaders and frenzy protest against the extension of ceasefire without territorial limits signed between the Government of India and NSCN (I-M) at Bangkok on June 14.However, it was a welcome step for the Nagas in ushering in peace to the wounded land of the Nagas as well as toward bringing about an honourable solution to the more than 50 years of hostility in the region, ANSAM said.

The students' body further stated that the extreme action/reaction by some sections of the people in the valley by setting fire to the Assembly Secretariat, MLAs Quarters and attempting to burn the CM's Secretariat and Raj Bhavan had crossed the limit of the democratic norms of agitation, thus compelling the security forces to resort to firing in a bid to control the mob.

The death of 14 youths on the spot was not a happy moment for all of us, the open letter said.

However, the Association questioned the sagacity of the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on what criteria and basis the Government has declared June 18 as State Integrity Day and therefore a State Holiday.

The Association, on behalf of the Naga would not accept nor acknowledge any such declaration as State Holiday by the State Government, the open letter said, adding categorically that in the event of the Government's failure to withdraw or revoke the order the Association will be compelled to take its own course of action for which the State Government should be held solely responsible for any eventualities.