Roll back dists creation, says UNC in missive to Amit Shah
Deadline of 15 days set
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, September 11 2024: The United Naga Council has written to the Union Home Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Senapati serving an ultimatum to the Government to roll back the creation of 7 new districts within 15 days.

The 7 new districts including Kangpokpi were created in December 2016 .

If not addressed within 15 days, UNC said it would launch intense agitations.

In the letter, the United Naga Council said that there have been social unrest in the State of Manipur in the backdrop of the arbitrary creation of 7 new districts by bifurcating parent districts on December 8, 2016 during the then Congress regime.

It said the bifurcation was carried out without taking informed consent and knowledge of the stakeholders-dishonouring four MoUs signed between the Government of Manipur and the Naga people, and the assurance from the Government of India in 2011 that no decision would be taken without consulting all sections of the people and all stakeholders, including Naga bodies representing the Nagas.

It said the bifurcation and creation of the 7 new districts was undemocratic and divisive.

Consequent upon the creation of the new districts, UNC said a massive protest in the form of hartals and an economic blockade was imposed on all National Highways for 139 days in the State and as many as ten rounds of tripartite talks between the Government of Manipur (GoM), United Naga Council (UNC) and Government of India (GoI) were held.

It said the last talk was held on March 9, 2019 with the assurance that a concrete proposal shall be placed by the Government of Manipur in the next round of talk, supposed to be held in the last week of July 2019.When a missive was sent to the office of the Special Secretary (erstwhile Jt Secretary), North East, MHA, GoI for resumption of the tripartite talk on January 22, 2024 and a prompt reminder on February 23, the UNC said it has not received any response.

Subsequently, the UNC said its Council Assembly held on May 29 and subsequent Presidential Council meeting on August 9 resolved to unanimously launch an intense agitation to ensure that the creation of the 7 districts on December 8, 2016 are rolled back.

"We believe in dialogue and has therefore tacitly appealed to address our grievances through petitions but having turned a deaf ear to their plea, the Nagas have resolutely taken a decision to set a stipulated period of fifteen (15) days to address the issues w.e.f the date of submission of the ultimatum.

On the expiry of the stipulated period of time, the Naga people will take up an intense form of agitation until the demands are met," UNC warned.

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