Naga talks shouldn't affect Manipur: UCM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 25 2022:
United Committee Manipur (UCM) president Joychandra Konthoujam has said that UCM supports resolution of the peace talks between the Government of India and NSCN-IM but will prepare for another June 18 uprising if the solution affects the territorial integrity of Manipur and the interest of the people.
Joychandra Konthoujam stated this on the sidelines of the last Langban Heisoi ritual conducted for those martyred during June 18, 2001 uprising at Kekrupat on Sunday.
Solution to peace talks between Government of India and NSCN-IM cannot challenge Manipur's integrity or interfere in the administration.
However, another round of June 18 uprising is guaranteed if the solution happens to contain any point which affects interest of the people of Manipur.
Nevertheless, people of Manipur want to resolution of the Naga peace talks in view of open and secret tax collection along national highways thereby resulting in hike of prices of essential commodities and frequent threat, kidnapping and torture of drivers along the highways, he said.
While questioning the motive behind giving threat and intimidation to people by the outfit in violation of ceasefire ground rules, the UCM president said that there must be a hidden agenda behind Indian forces allowing the outfit to act at will.
He maintained that NSCN-IM is yet to change its main demand of establishing an independent Naga nation called 'Nagalim' by integrating Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to the present Nagaland state.
While pointing out that Manipur existed as an independent nation (kingdom) with more than 5000 years of history and even the mighty British, Burmese and 'Khakis' were unable to break apart Manipur in the past, the UCM president said that no power which could break apart Manipur has been born till date.