I will support that party sympathetic to Naga issue, Charanamei

Shillong, Jul 18 (UNI) Mounting pressure on the Congress-led UPA govenment, outer Manipur Lok Sabha Independent MP Mani Charanamei today said he would decide on whether to oppose or support the UPA government during the July 22 trust vote only after the Congress made its stand clear on the ''Greater Nagaland''.

'' I have not decided whether to oppose or support the trust vote as the Nagas have been demanding for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas into Nagaland, '' Mr Charanamei told UNI here over phone, even both Congress and BJP had been lobbying with him for getting his vote.

Expressing disappointment with the UPA's Common Minimum Programme, the Independent MP said the Congress-led alliance's CMP had already made it clear that the ''territorial boundary'' of the Northeast would be maintained and it was aimed at suppressing the Naga aspiration. '' Mr Charanamei also lamented that the CMP, which said it would maintain the territorial boundary in the Northeast, was against the spirit of the Constitution as the Congress resorted to to doublespeak.

'' The UPA says it would maintain the territorial boundary but what about the creation of Jharkhand and Uttarkhand and when it comes to Northeast it's the other way round, '' the Independent Legislator opined.

He said the CMP conveyed a strong message to the Nagas that their aspiration of merging all Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh would not be entertained.

'' I will decide on whether to vote for or against the UPA trust vote only after knowing the mind of the two national political parties - Congress and BJP - on the merger of the Naga-inhabited areas with Nagaland, '' Mr Charanamei stated.

Mr Charanamei said, '' If he supports either the Congress or BJP he has to explain to his people the reasons for his support. '' '' Nuclear deal is important for the energy of the country but for me the Naga people's aspiration is more important. Whichever party shows sympathy with the Naga issue, he will support them, '' he clarified.

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