MLA Anand debunks claim of Naga nationalism
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 20 2014 : Congress legislator RK Anand on Friday said that the ostensible "Naga nationalism" or the hope for the Naga integration based on ethnic line is found nowhere in the history of Manipur and pledged to block any discussion on the issue of demand for Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas if it is brought up in the next Congress Legislature Party meeting.

Anand said he condemned the United Naga Council (UNC) in the strongest terms for imposing a 48-hour bandh in Naga dominated areas to push for the demand of Alternative Arrangement during the observance of the June Uprising Day, Unity Day on June 18 last.

The then Atal Bihari Vajpayee headed NDA Government at the Centre blindly made up an ethnocentric theory describing the Nagas as a group having their own "unique history," the Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA said, adding the description given here contradicts the very unique histories of all the other ethnic communities in Manipur.

RK Anand at inaugural function of a newly constructed Community Hall at Hiyangthang Maning Leikai

Anand said the different groups in the State have their own distinctive histories and hence it was useless for the Vajpayee Government to differentiate the characters and histories of the indigenous communities of the State.

He said it will be a matter which entails serious analysis and thought if the Nagas ever think that their so called distinctiveness could be the beginning of the Naga integration process.

The MLA further attacked Lok Sabha MP and former Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for allegedly stepping up to challenge the integrity, national character and nationalism of Manipur.

Calling Rio a "rubber stamp," Anand lashed out at the Naga People's Front (NPF) leader for being an NSCN-IM sponsored politician and forging alliance with NDA to work against the integrity, national character and nationalism of the land of Manipur.

He said, "Rio is trying to rely on NDA for the Naga integration, but he will always fail in his efforts to disintegrate Manipur." The Bangkok Declaration of 2001 which fueled violence in the State was withdrew by the then NDA Government in the aftermath of the June 18 Uprising on realizing it as a wrong move, Anand mentioned.

Claiming that many people from the international community who are well experienced in politics and aware of all the issues of Manipur are supporting the society, Anand declared that he will block any discussion pertaining to the Alternative Arrangement demanded by the UNC if it is brought up at the next meeting of the State Congress Legislature Party.

He dubbed all the UNC sponsored strikes on the demand of Alternative Arrangement as "futile attempts" and suggested both the Central and State Governments to drop the idea.

"If the State Government considers this demand time and again, the Government will have to feel itself as a meek Government," he said.

He added that the issue on the proposed Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas cannot be resolved without the involvement of Manipur Legislative Assembly, and that the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre should be cautious in tackling the issue.

Anand was speaking at the inaugural function of a newly constructed Community Hall at Hiyangthang Maning Leikai in his constituency.