UCM says no to 6th Schedule
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 02 2017:
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has categorically stated that neither the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution should be enforced in Manipur nor should a State be created within the State.
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, UCM president Elangbam Johnson said that NSCN-IM's demand to create autonomous district councils of different types pending final solution of the political dialogue between Government of India and NSCN-IM is unacceptable.
Even as the Government of India and NSCN-IM have signed a Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015, the State Government, civil society organisations and all stake holders should be consulted before hammering a final solution.
It is rather disturbing that NSCN-IM has been circulating volumes of propaganda even before a final solution has been worked out, said UCM.
Johnson said he was hope-ful that no final solution would be worked out in haste without consulting the State Government, CSOs and all stake holders.
Nonetheless, he expressed keen desire for the State Government to pay due attention to the political dialogue and take up all possible pre-emptive measures.
The Government of India as well as the State Government should never commit the blunder, of overlooking the fact that 18 people lost their lives in 2001 in the massive spontaneous civil movement for protection of Manipur's territorial integrity which was invited by the Bangkok Declaration signed between Government of India and NSCN-IM in the same year, Johnson said.
Both the Central Govefortient and the State Government should keep in mind that the territorial -integrity of Manipur is something which should not be impinged upon in any manner.
The State Government should be particularly alert on the issue and it should refrain from doing anything which is not acceptable to the people.
The people and the CSOs would not remain silent if there is any threat to the integrity of Manipur.
What is unacceptable is unacceptable and changing nomenclatures would not change anything, asserted the UCM president.
He further called upon all the people to be alert and wary of the threats posed to the integrity of Manipur by the Framework Agreement signed in 2015 .