Hills rally resounds with cry for severing ties with Govt of Manipur
Demand timed to fit in with Pillai's visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 19 2010: After the Naga People's Convention (NPC), the highest decision making body of the Naga community, took a decision to sever all political ties with the State Government on alleged charge of disregarding the demands of the Nagas, peace rallies were taken out in the district headquarters of hill districts today demanding the Government of India to make an alternative arrangement for the administration of the Naga inhabited areas.

The peace rallies were taken out at the district headquarters of Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong district as part of the campaign being launched by United Naga Council (UNC) in support of the decision taken by NPC.

Rallies taken out at Senapati demanding alternative arrangements for the Nagas of Manipur

In Senapati district headquarters, the rally was participated by students of various schools, representatives of various civil organisations including SDSA, SDWA, etc and village chiefs.

Prior to flagging off the rally, a large number of peoploe gathered at Senapati Public Ground.

Addressing the gathering, president of Naga People's Organisation, M Dili Mao denounced the Government of Manipur, alleging that not a single demand of the Naga people has been given a sympathetic consideration.

It is a Government that has been suppressing the rights of the Naga people, he charged, adding that names of around one lakh Naga people have been deleted from the census report of 2010 .

From Senapati public ground, the rally proceeded upto Senapati Forest Gate.

From there, the rallyists walked till Senapati DC office before converging at the public ground again.

The participants were seen carrying placards inscribed with slogans like 'Enough is enough', 'We want alternative arrangement', 'GoI recognise our history with land and people', 'Naga-Govt of Manipur solution is alternative arrangement', 'Expedite the alternative arrangement out of State of Manipur', 'Alternative arrangement is our rightful demand', etc.

After the peace rallies at Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong district headquarters, a declaration has been adopted in connection with the demand for alternative arrangement and submitted to the visiting Union Home the same to the Prime Minister.

The Naga leaders who participated in the rally at Ukhrul district headquarters reportedly held a closed door meeting and later submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through Union Home Secretary GK Pillai.

In Tamenglong district headquarters, the rally was organised jointly by Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front, Zeliangrong Students' Union and Zeliangrong Pui.

The rally was flagged off from Tamenglong mini stadium and proceeded till DC office where a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister through the district administrator.

At UKhrul district headquarters, Tangkhul frontal organisations jointly took out a mass rally at around 9 am from two junctions and finally converged at TNL ground for public meeting.

After the public meeting a declaration was read out and the same was submitted to the Prime Minister through the Union Home Secretary stating that the mass rally was held to demand early alternative arrangement.

The Nagas in Ukhrul district of Manipur having established position based on the unmistakable and undeniable facts it is impossible to protect the inherent rights of life, land, institution, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and 'communal' Government of Manipur and the harsh reality is that the State Government never recognised the identity and dignity of the Naga people, the declaration asserted.

It further asserted that the Nagas of Manipur have taken a firm political stand to demand an alternative arrangement to fill the vacuum so created in the administration of the Government by severing all political ties with the 'communal' Government of Manipur on July 1, 2010 at Senapati declaration during the 3rd Naga People's Convention.

The declaration also reaffirmed the Naga People's Convention seeking an alternative arrangement from the Government of India in consultation with the Naga people at the earliest possible time and demanded to expedite the process for alternative arrangement to the Nagas outside the State of Manipur.