Blowing hot and cold over AA demand: UCM demands HLC detail
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 26 2014 : Insisting that the people of Manipur deserve thorough explanation on the constitution of the High Level Committee (HLC) in connection with the United Naga Council's (UNC) demand for Alternative Arrangement outside the Government of Manipur pending solution to the Naga political issue, the United Committee manipur (UCM) cautioned that not able to convince the people will be assumed as an invitation for intense agitation.

Reacting to the recent media report about Ministry of Home Affairs' Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh declaring that HLC would be constituted within 10 days to look into the UNC demand, UCM president Y Nabachandra opined that the latest move of the Central Government is yet another attempt to mislead the people of Manipur.

Reminding Central authorities that people of Manipur need no tutoring on the territorial boundary of the State while speaking to newspersons at its Lamphelpat office today, Nabachandra said assuming the people of Manipur to be naive on such a sensitive issue and trying to take the people of Manipur for a ride will backfire on the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Pointing out that in reality demand/issue related to Greater Nagalim, South Nagalim, Development Council, supra State Body and Alternative Arrangement have had no real impact as all these terminology are technically similar but packaged differently, he said the Joint Secretary needs to assess and understand consequences of the June 2001 mass movement rather than utter irresponsible comments.

Further asserting that people of Manipur will not tolerate or accept any compromise on the issue of State's territorial integrity as was demonstrated during the June 2001 agitation, Nabachandra observed that formation of HLC is not only another reminder for the people to maintain constant vigil but testifies that the Central Government is yet to give up 'divide and rule' policy.

Shambhu Singh claiming that formation of HLC is an outcome of meetings with the Manipur Government representatives, including the CM, deserves explanation from the State Government as such a development is beyond the people's expectation and aspiration, said the UCM chief who also conceded that the central bureaucrat's comments has been creating serious confusion as the people have been questioning integrity and stand of the State Government when a State delegation attended the tripartite talk in senapati in which individuals declared as 'wanted' by the Government were also present.

Asking State authorities to acknowledge public sentiment instead of taking hasty decisions that might snowball into issues beyond the Government's control, Nabachandra reiterated the demand that Government of Manipur clarify on formation of HLC at the earliest.

Turning the tirade against the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio labelling his Manipur counter-part as 'enemy of the Nagas' at the Lui-Ngai-Ni celebration in Tamenglong district recently, the UCM president said such comment is not only irresponsible and demeans Rio's position but clearly illustrates that the Nagaland CM sympathises with the Nagas of Manipur only when elections are round the corner.

Branding Rio as opportunist and traitor and asserting that it would be futile to attempt straining the 2000 years old fraternal bond of various ethnic communities settled in Manipur, UCM highlighted that Rio's vociferous contention that the Naga political issue will find a definite solution before the nagaland State assembly eventually showcased that Rio's only concern is vote bank politics and not upholding interest of nagas of Manipur.

There has been no concrete development in the naga peace talks even after Rio assumed second term in office as the Nagaland CM, noted Nabachandra terming Rio's latest comment at Tamenglong as yet another political gimmick in view of the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Rather than intervening in the affairs of Manipur it would be better if Rio settles dissension in Eastern Nagaland, said Nabachandra referring to the ENPO movement in Eastern Nagaland.

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