Dimapur, June 24 (EMN): The Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) has taken strong note of what it said were allegations by Mao civil organisations during a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh that Dzükou valley was encroached ‘from Nagaland side.’
The SAYO issued a press release on Sunday. It stated: ‘The SAYO in its emergency meeting took serious note of the allegation of Mao civil societies in the meeting with Manipur Chief Minister Mr. N. Biren Singh that Dzükou valley was encroached upon from Nagaland side, and further suggesting that the government to construct motorable (sic) road up to Dzükou valley, police station, marketing shed for women vendors, helipad and guest house for tourist at Dzükou valley.’
Here, the SAYO declared that the “Manipur Nagaland interstate imaginary political boundary line” was drawn by the British arbitrarily when Nagaland was a mere district of Assam. It was done without consulting the southern Angamis who were the land owners in actual possession of the Dzükou, the SAYo stated. The press release declared that it shall never be recognized or accepted by the southern Angami people.
“SAYO reiterates that Dzükou valley traditionally belongs to the Southern Angami’s from time immemorial and this fact has never been in doubt or disputed. Acknowledging this fact the Mao had to retreat and apologized many a times whenever they attempted to encroach into Dzükou area even in recent time.”
Further, the SAYO stated that ‘throughout the ages the Angami people, particularly the southern Angamis and the Mao people have been living together as a family and brothers without any territorial distinction.’
Though the southern Angamis ‘have very little or nothing to gain from Mao side of Manipur,’ the southern Angami people and the Nagas of Nagaland 'have been very generous to other Nagas from Manipur particularly the Maos.’
‘They have been given and (sic) possession of land and access to various types of trade and commerce without any distinction for being not indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland state. However, this gesture has been ruthlessly and aggressively exploited by Maos. Thus, creating numerous untoward incidents between the hosts and the guests,’ the SAYO asserted.
The SAYO has demanded that the Mao and their civil society organisations desist from “any such acts to provocation lest it may cause far-reaching consequences,” it added.
