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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Senior Samata Party politician and National Democratic Alliance convener George Fernandes, who visited Manipur last week, described Monday's developments in the state as unfortunate.
"I was in Manipur on the 13th and 14th and my interaction with political parties and other organizations clearly indicated that they are all against extension of the ceasefire [with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim] to Naga areas of other states [in the Northeast]," Fernandes told reporters at the residence of Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Krishen Chandra Pant.
Fernandes had called on Pant to discuss the government's initiative in Jammu & Kashmir. Pant is the government's chief negotiator in the state.
Asked if he plans to convene a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance's co-ordination committee, Fernandes said this would have to be done in consultation with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
As of now an NDA meeting does not seem necessary, he said. Moreover, he pointed out, the prime minister is not in Delhi. "Once he comes back I will consult him. Any decision will be taken after that," he said.
Fernandes denied that the government had acted hastily in extending the ceasefire with the Naga militants to other states of the Northeast.
But he added that all parties in Manipur were united in opposing the extension of the ceasefire beyond the borders of Nagaland.
Pant said Governor Ved Marwah had met him on his recent visit to Manipur and told him about the state's financial status. "I know that the salaries of the government employees have not been paid and the state has an overdraft of Rs 400 crore [Rs 4 billion]. When the governor meets me next time for the budgetary allocations, I will take steps to ensure that the state does not have any financial burden," he told rediff.com
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