Nagas in Sadar Hills area against district demand
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, October 06 2011:
The Naga people residing in Sadar Hills area of Senapati district Thursday staged a sit-in-protest and have strengthened their stand against the formation of Sadar Hills district and vowed to shed blood for the cause of their land, saying the Nagas will not compromise with anyone over their land.
The sit-in-protest staged at Makhan village was participated by hundreds of people from all walks of life on Thursday.
The protest demonstration was organized by 'The people inhabiting in the so called Sadar Hills area of Senapati district, Manipur' .
T Disinang, a leader of Liangmei Naga Council speaking during the sit-in-protest cum public meeting, said that they would not compromise with anybody over their land.
"Chief Minister O Ibobi is trying to create problems among the tribals.
The Ibobi led government is also attempting to include the foot hills areas inhabited by tribals into Imphal East and Imphal West districts", he alleged.
"We are ready to shed our blood to defend our land and there will be no compromise on it.
The Nagas will not surrender their rights under any circumstances", Disinang asserted.
"The Sadar Hills area has its additional Deputy Commissioner and gets every facility just like any other districts in the state.
Why demand for separate district?", questioned Chance Raikhan, president, Saikul Area Naga People Organisation.
He asked the reason behind not inviting the 117 Naga villages for discussion before the demand for formation of Sadar Hills district was made.
Raikhan also expressed willingness to hold a joint meeting over the issue between the leaders of different Naga organisations and Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) to bring a clear understanding regarding the matter.
He said they came out to protest against SHDDC's demand because it is being repeatedly stated that the people who have been opposing the creation of Sadar Hills district are outsiders meaning they are not residing in Sadar Hills areas.
"The voice of United Naga Council ( UNC) is our voice.
We oppose the creation of Sadar Hills district by carving out Senapati district", he further said.
Slogans like " We oppose Sadar Hills district creation", "Honour the MoU"(signed between the Naga people and the state Government), " No inclusion in valley districts" were shouted by the gathering mostly from Saikul, Saitu and Kangpokpi assembly constituencies.