Imphal, Dec 08: Manipur Cultural Integration Conference (MCIC), a body of social workers today urged the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee for granting autonomy to Manipur within the constitutional framework stating it would not only protect interests of various ethnic groups but bring peace and harmony among different communities in the state. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the MCIC general secretary A Brajakumar Sharma said autonomy status would also promote the culture and tradition of the people in the region. Urging the Centre to initiate for granting autonomy status Sharma said developmental and constructive programmes should be interlinked with the culture and tradition so that people could take part in their implementation. He also stressed the need for enforcement of uniform laws in hills and valley as this would bring emotional integration among different sections of the people besides giving ownership rights to hill people. As per provisions of the existing laws, no individual can own lands in their names in the hill districts.
Bureau Report