AA Demand: UNC upbeat, UCM alerted
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal/Dimapur, February 26 2014 : Even as upbeat leaders of United Naga Council (UNC) have rushed back to New Delhi today in connection with their demand for an 'alternative arrangement' of the Nagas in Manipur outside the State Government, a strong reaction has come from the side of United Committee Manipur (UCM) over the report that the Government of India 'is all set to constitute a 'high level committee' (HLC) to study the demand of UNC.

The upbeat UNC leaders who rushed back to New Delhi had just returned to Manipur from Delhi last Friday after meeting the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials on the 'Alternative Arrangement' issue.

The Naga leaders had held a series of meetings last week with the MHA officials in the national capital following which the Government of India decided to set up a 'high level committee' (HLC) on the matter within this week itself.

Sources from New Delhi informed Newmai News Network this evening that the UNC leaders have arrived in the national capital to hold further meetings with the MHA officials.

"Yes, we are here again today as the need for a 'joint exercise' with the Ministry of Home Affairs has cropped up," confided a UNC source.

Meanwhile, speculations within the Naga circle are doing the round that this time the Government of India has begun its real spade-work on the Alternative Arrangement issue.

However, what really is going on in the meetings between the UNC leaders and the Government of India representatives will be known in the next few days' time.

On February 6, for the first time, the talks on the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur involving the Government of India, the Government of Manipur (represented by Cabinet Ministers) and United Naga Council (UNC) was held at a 'political level' in Senapati district headquarter.

The development on that day was significant as the previous six rounds of talks were mere meetings of UNC leaders with the bureaucrats for which reason the Naga body had fumed.

Back home, a strong reaction has come from the side of United Committee Manipur (UCM), a conglomerate of several civil society organisations that was formed in 2001 to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur, over the report that the Government of India 'is all set to constitute a 'high level committee' (HLC) in connection with the UNC's demand for Alternative Arrangement' of the Nagas of Manipur outside the Government of Manipur.

Talking to reporters here today, UCM president Y Nabachandra alerted the people of Manipur to face any eventuality in connection with the outcome of the ongoing 'Alternative Arrangement' talks.

Nabachandra said, "Any arrangement designed for any community in Manipur that is a threat to the Manipur's territorial and social integrities will be opposed tooth and nail by the people of Manipur.

The people will never allow such thing to happen" .

Nabachandra also reacted to the statement of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who during his speech at the State Level Lui-Ngai-Ni celebration a Tamenglong district headquarters on February 15 reportedly described Chief Minister of Manipur as the enemy no.1 of the Nagas, calling the Nagaland Chief Minister as an opportunist and a traitor.

Nabachandra said, "Nephiu Rio should stop from interfering in the affairs of Manipur, and mind his own business of looking into his state's affairs" .

Nagaland Chief Minister should first solve the problems of the Eastern Naga Peoples' Organisation (ENPO)'s demands for a separate state, Nabachandra said, while appealing to the Naga people to ponder on the reason behind Rio's desire to contest the Lok Sabha election leaving his Chief Ministership.

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