Dimapur, Dec. 15: In what could be a possible precursor to even more serious development in Manipur, the Committee of Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi (CJNCSD) CJNCSD has appealed to the United Naga Council (UNC) to convene Naga people’s convention to declare the Naga areas in Manipur a separate state.
The organization has vowed to intensify agitations against the decision of the Manipur government to create a number of districts. The CJNCSD issued a press release on Thursday.
The organization stated that the Manipur government had turned a deaf ear to the outcry of the Nagas despite the 48-hour ultimatum and that the government of India had also ‘deliberately failed to intervene at this critical juncture in dishonour of the 3rd August, 2015 Framework Agreement.’
The CJNCSD “today vows to intensify the agitation and asserts that nothing short of total separation from the state of Manipur would resolve the Naga issue henceforth,” the press release stated.
“CJNCSD decries the forcible inauguration of Kangpokpi, Jiribam and Tengnaopal as new districts despite the staunch opposition from the Nagas and consequently appeals UNC to convene Naga people’s convention to declare the Naga areas in Manipur a separate statehood and run the existing institutions as per the Naga customary law and practices,” the organization stated.
The CJNCSD also called upon the tribal hohos to “burn down every Manipuri textbook.” It appealed to them to notify every educational institution to immediately ‘terminate’ Manipuri / Meiteilon as the medium of instruction in schools. Likewise, it appealed to the hohos to “henceforth boycott any posting or deputation of any valley-based government employees to any government institutions in the Naga areas.”
The organization also noted the ‘deliberate silence’ of the government of India to the creation of the new seven districts in Manipur. This “amounts to redrawing of Naga boundaries without any constitutional mandate and jurisdiction and thus, questions if GoI’s sole intention is to retract the 3rd August, 2015 Framework Agreement by deploying additional armed forces in aid of the unconstitutional and anti-Naga policies of Ibobi government.”
“CJNCSD states that Ibobi’s project not only disrespects the aspiration of the Nagas, but also insults the Naga people beyond tolerance and the Nagas will resort to any democratic means of protest available in defending their land, identity and culture as land and the Nagas are inseparable,” the press release stated.
The CJNCSD also regretted what it called the “communal stance taken by the valley-based civil organisations by resorting to violent counter-blockade targeting the Naga community rather than questioning the anti-Naga stance of the state government.” The statement reiterated that the Nagas have nothing to do with any particular individual or community.
The press release added: “CJNCSD assures that the issue is between and only between the state and the Nagas alone. CJNCSD seeks the immediate intervention of GoI before the avoidable situation escalates into a full-blown-out ethnic confrontation that the Nagas may repose their faith in its sincerity to the principles laid down in the 3rd August, 2015 Framework Agreement and appeals the valley-based civil organisations to stand with the Nagas in their fight for the long cherished common justice.”
