PC banks on talk cards, CM rules out unilateral decision on Sadar Hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, November 02 2011: With the United Naga Council (UNC) intensifying its demand for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur, Union home minister P Chidambaram who arrived here today has strongly advocated the need to enhance communal harmony and stressed that every problem can be resolved through talks.

"We must learn to live together and there is no problem which cannot be solved through talks," Chidambaram said minutes after he inaugurated a mini-secretariat office complex and a section of district hospital at Senapati district headquarters located about 61 kilometers from Imphal .

The Union Minister's peace initiative came a couple of days after the State Government and the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) inked an agreement in which the former assured to upgrade the Sadar hills to a full fledged district after the District Re-organization Committee (DRC) submits its report.

Accompanied by Central officials and AICC leaders, Chidambaram arrived in Imphal in a special aircraft today morning on a two-day visit to strife torn Manipur.

From Imphal he along with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his team landed at Senapati in a chopper.

Contrasting reception committee for the Chief Minister and Home Minister at Senapati

Before addressing the public at Senapati , the Union Home Minister along with the Chief Minister had a closed door meeting with leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) for about 40 minutes.

Though both parties refused to divulge the meeting deliberations, sources said the UNC hard pressed the Home Minister to work out a model for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur by severing all ties with the Government of Manipur.

The SHDDC suspended its 93-day old economic blockade on the National Highways after the MoU was signed at 12 am of November 1 .

Denouncing the State Government's alleged attempt to bifurcate Naga-dominated areas while creating new districts, the UNC has been imposing an economic blockade on Nh-2 and NH-37 since August 21 .

The apex Naga body has also imposed a three-day total bandh in Naga area from midnight of November 3 in protest against the agreement signed between the State Government and the SHDDC.

Seeking to pacify the UNC's ire, the Chief Minister ruled out any unilateral decision on the report to be submitted by the DRC.

Sadar Hills will not be created without consulting all the people concerned, he said.

"Even after we receive the DRC report, we will consult all civil bodies and communities.

We will not take any decision unilaterally and we don't want to create problems while trying to resolve another problem," Ibobi said.

"We will not do anything which will hurt any community and we have to live together peacefully .

If there is any misunderstanding let us forgive and forget," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the UNC to end its intensified stir in the larger interest of the people of the State.

"At a time when the Centre is extending its utmost effort to develop the State, we are facing frequent economic blockades," Ibobi Singh lamented.

After the Senaptati programme, the VVIPs flew to Ukhrul to inaugurate new Government infrastructures.

On Thursday, they will visit Tamenglong district.