Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, December 7
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Zeliangrong Union (Assam,Manipur and Nagaland) has condemned the United Naga Counci(UNC)l for opposing the state level Orange Festival at Tamenglong district headquarters.
A statement of ZU said since ZU an apex body of the Zeliangrong community is not consulted in the matter regarding the state level Orange Festival, any decision taken up by the UNC is not acceptable to Zeliangrong people. It said the UNC boycotting the festival is very unfortunate and it is totally against the interest of the community.
The UNC had had appealed to the Naga people not to extend help and cooperation while holding the state level Orange Festival in Tamenglong district headquarters.Meanwhile, the organisers of the 11th edition of the state level Orange Festival have started to make the traditional Zeliangrong hut locally known “talang-kai’ at the local ground of Tamenglong district headquarters, 150 km west of Imphal. The festival will be held on December 8-9 under the theme ‘Orange for Unity and Prosperity’. State chief minister O Ibobi Singh along with deputy chief minister Gaikhangam will attend the inauguration function. Almost all the important minister of the ruling government including the Health minister Phungzathang tonsing, Public Health and Engineering department minister I Hemochandra, Industries minister K Gobindas Konthoujam, Rural Development minister Francis Ngajokpa and others are expected to take part in the festival.
