Imphal, January 23: Without beating around the bush, Chief Minister O Ibobi today stated, "If there is anyone who wants to leave Manipur, he or she is welcome to do so.

But no one will be allowed to leave with even an inch of land of Manipur".

Speaking at the opening of the Keishamthong Block Congress office at the residence of former Minister L Jayantakumar today, the Chief Minister made his stand clear against the demand to bring all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella.

Without mincing words, the Chief Minister said that anyone is free to leave Manipur and settle somewhere else.

However that person leaving Manipur will not be allowed to take away even an inch of land belonging to the State, he asserted.

Going on the offensive against the votaries of Greater Nagaland, the Chief Minister said that it makes no sense for the Manipuris who have settled at other place for years and ages to try and include that land to the map of Manipur.

Likewise it defies logic for anyone to say that they can take away the land of Manipur to some other State, he added.

The two day Naga consultative meeting convened by the NSCN (IM) with Naga chiefs and NGOs and student bodies at Hebron near Dimapur had recently endorsed the stand of bringing all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit.

Touching on other issues, the Chief Minister said that the State Government will oppose any move to shift RIMS somewhere else in the face of the grave law and order situation and the pressure which have been exerted on the institution by different armed groups.

Coming out strongly against the outside pressure exerted on RIMS and the numerous extortion notices served on it, the Chief Minister called upon all to ensure that the sanctum sanctorum of the institution is not defiled.

"Let the students carry on with their academic pursuit without any disturbances and let's not allow any elements to disturb the academic atmosphere of the institute," exhorted the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister expressed grave concern over whether the State Government would be able to utilize the financial package released by the Centre on time and added that to effectively utilize the sanctioned money, the major roads of Imphal will be widened soon.

Encroachers will be evicted and patta holders will be paid their compensation on time, assured the Chief Minister.

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