Imphal, August 02 2010: Giving its reason why it has not accepted the invitation extended by the state government of Manipur for the consultative meeting on August 3 in Imphal, the United Naga Council (UNC) said that the move of the state government was a ploy to arrest and detain the Naga leaders.

The United Naga Council president and the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) chief have been issued arrest warrants and 'wanted tags' with Rs 1 lakh each on their heads by the state government for calling the economic blockade.

Given this condition, the UNC said that it can never accept the invitation from the state government.

"For exercising a democratic expression to protect our rights many Naga leaders are treated as criminals by issuing arrest warrants with 'wanted tags' by the state government of Manipur in the recent past and remain effective till date," rued the UNC while adding, "Under this circumstance we consider the invitation extended by the state government of Manipur to the Naga civil societies and tribal organizations for round table meeting on August 3 at the Conference Hall of the chief minister as a ploy to arrest and detain the Naga leaders.

Therefore, the Naga people out-rightly refused to attend the proposed meeting on the rejected Autonomous District Councils, Manipur which the Naga people have declared as 'null and void'".

It then said that the United Naga Council in the 3rd Naga Peoples' Convention held on July 1, 2010 at Senapati had declared that the Nagas would sever political ties with the government of Manipur and henceforth there shall be total political non-cooperation movement against it.

"Because of the severance of ties, the vacuum in governance and administration created thereby must be filled with an alternative arrangement by the government of India in consultation with the Naga people at the earliest possible time," the UNC asserted.