AA Demand: UNC-MHA joint exercise begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Dimapur, February 28 2014 : Amidst uproar from certain quarters against the imminent creation of 'Alternative Arrangement' for Nagas in Manipur outside the Manipur Government, leaders of United Naga Council (UNC) and officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have started the 'joint exercise' for working out the required criteria.

After a meeting between the UNC leaders and the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi this afternoon, two names have been submitted from the side of UNC executive to MHA for inclusion in the 'High Power Committee' (HPC) as requested by the Government of India.

Coming out after the several hours long meeting, the UNC leaders confided to Newmai News Network that the 'Alternative Arrangement' will be based on the postulates submitted to the Government of India earlier like 'administrative power,' the legislative power' and the 'financial power,' would be outside the Manipur Government.

Terming it as 'High Power Committee' (HPC) and not 'High Level Committee' (HLC), the UNC leaders said the HPC will be constituted in the next five days' time.

"Yes, we are happy that the things are sailing well of late, towards the creation of the Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur outside the Manipur Government," stated the UNC leaders, adding, "This afternoon's meeting between the UNC and MHA was as part of the 'joint exercise' which is a required criterion." The UNC leaders then said that the 'Alternative Arrangement' is a "political issue" .

Interestingly, the UNC leaders had returned to Manipur from Delhi on February 21 after meeting the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials on the 'Alternative Arrangement' issue.

The Naga leaders had held a series of meetings last week with the MHA officials in the national capital following which the Government of India decided to set up a 'high power committee' (HPC).

After holding three days at Senapati to consult with the Naga tribe leaders, the UNC leaders rushed back to New Delhi on Tuesday last for the 'joint exercise' with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It is worth recalling here that on February 6, for the first time, the talks on the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur was held at a 'political level' in Senapati district headquarter involving the Government of India, the Government of Manipur ( represented by Manipur cabinet ministers) and the United Naga Council (UNC) .

That day's development was significant because the previous six rounds were mere meetings of UNC leaders with the bureaucrats for which reason the Naga body had fumed.

Comment