UNC condemns CM's 'every land belongs to Govt' stand
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Senapati, July 12 2021:
The United Naga Council (UNC) has condemned the recent statement of chief minister N Biren Singh that "every land in the state belongs to the government and it has the authority to use those lands for the development and well-being of the people." Reacting to comment of the chief minister, the UNC said it appreciates the steps taken by the government under the initiative of chief minister N Biren on the occasion of the 72nd Van Mahotsav celebrations and carrying out a mass tree plantation program at Mongjol village in Sadar Hills area, under Senapati district, for preservation of forest and to strengthen the ecological balance and eco-system in the area.
UNC, however, maintained that it is constrained to remind the chief minister to be more cautious and be realistic in his approach and not fall in line with his past predecessors.
The Naga body said that the comment of the Manipur chief minister "does not merit the occasion" and has no basis with the facts but it can be ill-informed to the present and future generations in a state like Manipur.
"We all must frankly admit that, what belongs to the Meiteis is Meiteis' and what belongs to the Nagas is Nagas' as these two indigenous communities have co-existed as immediate neighbours since time immemorial and together landed under British India and forcibly the state of Manipur came into being with the formation of Independent India and Burma in 1948," the UNC further said.
The Naga body also said that, "for which fall out we all have our own movements and struggles for self-determination till date".
According to the UNC, it is the people who came first and not the state.
It also said that the state "does not own land" until it first owns its people.
"Therefore, the state government must be mindful of what they are doing with any new developments and any new creations," it added.
With regard to Mount Koubru range imbroglio, the UNC said it is equally concerned on the protection and preservation of the environmental and ecological balance.
The Naga body said that it will be good if none becomes over-obsessive on the ownership of the area since it has its own history.
The UNC further said that the more "they assert their rights of ownership over the area the more they contradict their roots" .
The UNC also said that "they must know and any amount of historical rhetoric and distortion is never going to be a solution", adding: "Be what they are, the Nagas and the Meiteis will never be a problem" .