UCM opposes separate territorial council, asks MLAs' stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2019: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has strongly opposed any kind of settlement including arrangements for territorial council, 6th Schedule and ethnic based administration to the peace talk going on between the NSCN-IM and the Govern-ment of India, apart from asking the 60 MLAs of the State to declare their stand in this regard at the earliest.

Speaking to media persons at UCM office at Lamphelpat today afternoon, its president Sunil Karam said that the Naga peace talk will decide the fate of the State as the people have heard different versions regarding the outcome of the peace process.

UCM opposes separate territorial council, asks MLAs' stand

UCM, after analysing the Naga issue thoroughly, found that there is a distinct possibility that an arrangement might be made for providing a territorial council or 6th Schedule for bringing a settlement, he said, adding that UCM has been strongly opposing such type of ethnic administrative division and if the Central Government tries to impose territorial council or 6th schedule in the State forcefully, then UCM will not remain silent.

UCM along with the people of Manipur will totally oppose such a move, he cautioned.

He continued that it is very unfortunate that the Central Government has failed to consult any of the stakeholders of the State till date, even at such a crucial time, and it is a firm stand of the UCM that no solution can be brought to the peace talk without consulting the stakeholders in the State.

The Government must not forget that if they use forceful means in this regard, then the people of Manipur are also ready to protect the integrity of the State with their lives, he said and appealed all the communities living together in the State to refrain from making their political demands and aspirations of their particular community to the Central Government directly.

"We have our own Government in the State and the people should consult or hold talk with the State Government concerning their political demand and aspirations", he explained.

Sunil then asked all the 60 MLAs of Manipur Legislative Assembly to declare their stand to the public regarding the formation of territorial council, 6th Schedule and ethnic based administration at the earliest.

Expressing suspicion that a solution to the Naga peace talk could be brought by destroying the territorial integrity of the State and making arrangements for territorial council inside Manipur, Sunil continued that taking serious note of situations UCM has been holding alert meetings with different community leaders and different sections of the society to discuss about the measures needed to be taken up if such arrangements are made forcefully.

The UCM president continued that it is high time for the State Government to take a firm decision in this regard and to stand with the people and pressure the Central Government against bringing any type of solution to the Naga issue which might harm the sentiments of the people.

UCM will challenge any political party of the State or the country who try to harm the integrity of Manipur, he threatened, appealing the people to be on high alert as a settlement to the Naga peace talk is likely soon.

On the other hand, Khuraijam Athouba, UCM general secretary, stated that UCM welcomes an end to the Naga peace talk but it is stoically against the creation of any separate territorial council inside the State in a bid to bring any form of settlement.

In November of 2017, members of different CSOs of the State went to Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and at that time, Modi assured that before bringing the final settlement of the Naga peace talk, the Government would thoroughly consult the stakeholders of Manipur, he said, adding that now, he (Modi) must keep his words before bringing a final settlement.

If the Government creates a territorial council, 6th Schedule or any pan Naga cultural body or if any kind of administrative arrangement is made inside the territory of Manipur by diverting from the assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and without consulting and taking approval of the stakeholders of the State, then the political relationship of Manipur with India needs to be looked and analysed thoroughly.

Manipur was merged with Indian as an entity and the Government of India had no right to interfere in making any arrangements and creating territories out of the State, he cautioned.