Resolve border dispute with Nagaland: CPI to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 04 2021:
Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council (CPI-MSC) has urged the State Government to settle the Manipur-Nagaland border dispute at the earliest so as to curb unwanted incidents or misunderstandings between the two States.
Nagaland Government forcefully organised its biggest festival 'Hornbill Festival' at Tungjoy village in Manipur sometime back which saw stiff resistance from the villagers, said CPI-MSC in a press release.
The unrestrained move on the part of the Nagaland Government led to an inter-State issue and now the focus has been shifted to claiming authority of one of the major tourist attractions, Dzuko valley, the major portion of which lies within Senapati district in Manipur, the release said.
In 2015, the Mao Council served a notice informing the South Angami Youth Organisation of Nagaland to restrain from encroaching upon the State's boundary following which the Nagaland based organisation imposed an economic blockade on Mao villagers on June 4 the same year.
The then State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi intervened and extended a helping hand to the Mao vendors by making necessary arrangements for a marketplace which was called 'Mao Market', CPI-MSC recalled.
Regarding the imbroglio between the Mao Council and the South Angami Youth Organisation, the BJP-led Government during the winter session of Manipur Legislative Assembly held in 2018, had stated that communication was being made at higher level to resolve the issue, it said.
Due to lack of interest on the part of the State Government, another issue has stemmed, this time at Dzuko valley, the surrounding hills of which are being raged by wildfire, it said.
The Government's inaction despite knowing the fact that a major portion of the valley lies within Manipur's territory is very unfortunate, said CPI-MSC.
The interception and restrictions of movement of the DC Senapati-led team who were on their way to reinforce firefighting team by some Nagaland-based organisations and villagers despite stating their purpose of taking routes within Nagaland was very unexpected and the State Government should not take the matter lightly, CPI-MSC continued while appealing to the State Government to expedite settlement of border dispute which has become a bone of contention between the villagers on both sides of the border.