MPP against UNC agenda, ridicules State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 04 2010: The Opposition Manipur People's Party (MPP) has raised strong objection against the demand put forward by the United Naga Council (UNC) during the tripartite talks held yesterday.

Describing the UNC agenda to carve out a separate State or union territory exclusively for the Nagas as yet another attempt to disintegrate Manipur, the MPP said outcome of the talks involving representatives of the Central and State Government and UNC leaders would not be acceptable.

reacting to news report that quoted a UNC functionary as saying that proposal for carving out a separate State/Union Territory was put up during the meeting, MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang said apart from adding fuel to fire participation of State Government representative/s at the talks tantamount to the SPF Government endorsing the sinister designs of the Centre to distort Manipur's territory and history.

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Ridiculing the UNC proposal, which Dr Luwang perceived to be a part of the alternative arrangement demand by the Naga body, he also demanded clarification from the SPF Government on what 'alternative arrangement' actually signifies and whether the State Government will concede to the demand/s of the UNC.

Dr Luwang also confided that MPP's opposition to the tripartite talks aimed at breaking up Manipur has been conveyed to the AICC President Sonia Gandhi and that similar petitions would be sent to the Prime Minister and the Union home Minister.

He also referred to the suspension of operation pact between the Govt of India and Nagaland-based rebels in 1964 as the beginning of the challenge posed to Manipur's territory.

Observing the absence of a strong media movement in the 60s, opposition raised by political parties of Manipur against the Pact was not highlighted satisfactorily, Dr Nimaichand said and added that after signing the Pact, Naga insurgency movement gradually spread to the erstwhile sub-divisions of Ukhrul, Mao and Tamenglong.

He also claimed that when the erstwhile president of Manipur Territorial Congress, RK Birchandra apprised the then prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was also the indian National Congress chief, about the objections raised from various quarters against the 1964 Pact.

However Manipur's interest was secondary to indira Gandhi as integrity and unity of India was top of the agenda for her, he alleged.

The former Minister also maintained that during the merger of United Naga Integration Council to the Congress party, the merger agreement context contained various points detrimental to the interest of Manipur and that the parent body had raised objection against movement for Naga integration.

However, the merger pact decided against initiation of punitive action against any Congress party member who supported or was involved in the movement, he claimed and demanded that the latter content should be declared null and void by the present Congress party organisation.

Speaking to another group of newspersons, MPP MLA RK Anand questioned motive of deputing Chief Secretary at the Senapati meeting held yesterday and flayed the SPF Government for endorsing the UNC campaign to distort history and territorial integrity of Manipur.

Condemning all movement detrimental to interest of Manipur, the MLA also cautioned the State Government not to legitimise any session/meeting aimed at breaking up Manipur, within the State's territory.