Tripartite talk held on new districts breaks no fresh ground
UNC conveys strong stand to Govt representatives
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati/Imphal, October 11 2024: The tripartite talk held in New Delhi between the Govt of India, Govt of Manipur and the United Naga Council (UNC) this afternoon on the UNC's demand to roll back the creation of seven new districts in the State ended without breaking any new ground.

The discussions focused on the creation of seven new districts by the Govt of Manipur on December 8, 2016 and UNC's demand to roll back the newly created districts.

The meeting was held in a charged atmosphere but it was finally agreed that further progress will be made by engaging in a sustained manner in order to resolve the issue in a time-bound manner keeping in view the previous commitments.

All sides agreed to hold the next round of tripartite talks on November 15, 2024 at Senapati.

Tripartite talk held on new districts breaks no fresh ground

This was the 11th round of talk on the district creation issue and a source said that the UNC team was highly disappointed with the fact that the latest round of dialogue has not taken anything forward.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a source said that the UNC team is not at all satisfied with the representatives of the Government and added that some hard, blunt points were delivered.

Land, identity and history of the Naga people is non-negotiable was the line conveyed to the Government representatives, said the source and added that the UNC team was also highly disappointed with the fact that not a single MLA from the side of the Government of Manipur was present at the meeting.

"The issue is political and the talk is a political issue and this is not the way that the Government should respond to the stand of the Naga people," said the source further.

The UNC team also made it very clear that if the injustice and the manner in which the earlier MoUs not to create Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills) district out of Senapati district without taking the Naga people into confidence, then the Naga people will go to any length that is needed to get their grievances redressed, said the source further.

The tripartite talk involving the Centre, the State Government and the UNC started back in 2017 but even after a lapse of 7 years and 11 rounds of talks no progress has been made, said the source and added that the stand of the Naga people was conveyed in no uncertain terms to the Government representatives.

The Govt of India was represented by AK Mishra, Advisor (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, seven representatives represented the UNC while Vineet Joshi, Chief Secretary and N Ashok Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) represented the Govt of Manipur at the tripartite talks.