IMPHAL, Feb 7: The presidential Council meeting of the United Naga Council (UNC) has decided to continue their agitation until the government withdraws the decision.
The decision was taken in an emergency presidential council of UNC at Senapati, about 60 km north of Imphal on Tuesday. The meet was held to consider the outcome of the tripartite talk involving centre, state and UNC held in New Delhi on February 3, according to a press statement.
Manipur has been reeling under indefinite economic blockade on its National Highways- the life lines of the state since November 1 midnight last night, forcing the general public to face scarcity of essential items since then. The blockade was called by UNC in protest against the government’s move to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts.
Informing that the February 3 talk in Delhi also agreed that none of the parties would go to the press on sensitive matters discussed in the talk, UNC’s general secretary S Milan, in the statement, charged that the Chief Minister of Manipur had stated in the media that “the UNC protest would be called off.”
Reaffirming that the ‘Nagas and their land are inseparable as the land gives us identity, tradition and culture,’ the meet also rejected the declaration of 7 new districts on December 8 last year.
“The GoM (Government of Manipur) only pleaded its helplessness on taking up the core issue in the talk as the election code of conduct, which has come into effect from January 4 this year, prohibits any political decision for roll back or otherwise either by the GoM or the GoI(Government of India),” the statement added. “The next tripartite talk for taking up the core issue was then scheduled for March 25 next.”
It said the presidential council, therefore, reiterated rejection of the creation of 7 new districts and resolved to continue to fight against “the insidious design of grabbing our land on the pretext of administrative convenience till the same is withdrawn.” It further stated that the code of conduct cannot limit the Union of India nor the Governor of Manipur from intervening and fulfilling their constitutional obligation to safeguard and protect land of the tribal as enshrined in the constitution.
Meanwhile, the state government in a press the release issues by Chief Sectary O Nabakishore appealed UNC to reconsider their decision and withdraw the economic blockade.
