The claim 'this is our ancestral land' not acceptable, says CM ; 'UNC can't hold Manipur to ransom'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 12 2017: The State Government and the people of Manipur have been tolerating all the atrocities committed by the United Naga Council (UNC) for too long and their atrocities have crossed all the tolerance limits, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

"Now we must face them", asserted the Chief Minister while addressing a flag hoisting ceremony of Congress candidate in Sagolband AC RK Imo today at his Bijoy Govinda Mamang Leikai residence under the aegis of Sagolband Block Congress Committee.

The UNC's claim that all Naga inhabited areas as theirs is something unacceptable.

The whole territory of Manipur belongs to the Government, said the Chief Minister.

As a practice, lands are being acquired by the Government after paying compensation as and when necessary.

"The claim that this is our ancestral land is unpalatable", Ibobi remarked.

The claim 'this is our ancestral land' not acceptable, says CM

Asking why some sections have been opposing the creation of seven new districts for administrative convenience and speedy development, Ibobi noted that the NSCN-IM and UNC have been contending that their ancestral land should not be fragmented.

But the Congress Government has been telling each and every one that Manipur is the common homeland of all communities settled within its territory.

No single community can claim exclusive ownership over any portion of the State's territory.

All the people of Manipur have been harassed and tortured for too long and their capacity of tolerance has exhausted, he said.

"Now we must fight them back.

Even BJP may take side with the offenders.

But we'll see who wins at the end", Ibobi stated.

Forget the Centre's BJP Government, no super power on Earth can dictate the internal affairs of Manipur as long the people of the State stand united.

"We are not a people to be dictated by a handful of individuals.

Manipur's integrity and its territorial boundary will remain intact as long as Congress party exists", Ibobi stated.

The ensuing election is very crucial for Manipur which is currently overwhelmed by multiple issues.

All these issues need to be tackled collectively.

All the people of the hills and the valley people have been suffering equally because some people who are driven by ethno-exclusive politics have been continuously sowing seeds of distrust and animosity among different communities of the State, Ibobi continued.

"I feel pity for the people who have been playing dirty political games by taking sides with those anti-people and anti-National groups.

Their sinister designs will never succeed and the hills and the valley of Manipur will never break apart", Ibobi asserted.

It is hard to believe that there would be peace and communal harmony in Manipur when any party like BJP other than Congress is elected to power, added the Chief Minister.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam stated that Manipur is now passing through a critical phase.

It appears that many people have been operating as enemies behind the flag of a particular party.

He also appealed to all the people to understand the politics of encouraging the conspiracy to fragment Manipur.

He too urged the Central Government to divulge details of the Framework Agreement it signed with NSCN-IM.

The UNC's indefinite economic blockade is anti-people and it is a frontal organisation of NSCN-IM and the NPF is a political mouthpiece of the militant outfit.

All these groups have close connection with BJP.

So the people of Manipur need to be wary of these groups.

The Deputy Chief Minister went on to assert that BJP supports the economic blockade.