UNC calls 96 hr bandh from Jul 23 on 'alternative arrangement'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2012: The United Naga Council (UNC) has announced a 96 hour total bandh from midnight of July 23 till midnight of July 27 to protest the indifferent attitude of the Government to its demand for alternative arrangement of the Nagas living in Manipur.

A statement issued by the Publicity Wing of the UNC said a 48 hour total bandh was observed in Naga areas from the midnight of June 16 to midnight of June 18 to protest the lack of sincerity of the Government of India (GoI) and Government of Manipur (GoM) in taking forward the democratic process of dialogue on the demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the Government of Manipur and to urge the GoI for intervention with an alternative arrangement.

Stating that the demand for an alternative arrangement is for immediate intervention, pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, the UNC alleged that even after a lapse of 3 weeks of having publicly registered the protest, no initiative has been taken up for pursuing the dialogue process to its logical end.

The UNC therefore decided to observe a 96 hour total bandh with effect from the midnight of July 23 to midnight of July 27 which would include railway construction, oil exploration and any other Central project works in Naga areas.

According to the statement, medical services, fire-brigade, media, power and telecommunication departments will be exempted from the purview of the total bandh.

It solicited the cooperation and goodwill of the general public towards making it peaceful and violence free while warning that anybody violating the total bandh would be doing so at their own risk.

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