UNC alleges apathy, disparity Bats for peaceful 'divorce'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2012: The United Naga Council has blamed the State Government for apathy and disparity in allotment of fund for check drawal authority under PWD whereby Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts were omitted and insignificant amount provided for Senapati district.

Alleging discriminations across a wide spectrum of issues, the UNC reiterated its call for peaceful parting of ways.

A statement issued by the UNC said that the division-wise allotment in the valley district is Rs 0.47 crore for Bridge Division, Rs 0.68 crore for Imphal East Division, Rs 1.19 crore for Imphal West Division, Rs 1.07 crore for Highway South Division, Rs 0.81 crore for Bishnupur Division and Rs 1.49 crore for Thoubal Division.

It further disclosed that the amount allotted to Churachandpur Division is Rs 1.24 crore, Sadar Hills Division Rs 1.55 crore and Senapati Division Rs 0.72 crore.

Rally demanding alternative arrangment for Nagas (File pic)

Reacting to the reported assertion of the Deputy Chief Minister that State Government is committed to development of hill districts in view of their special needs while addressing some students at Senapati on November 10, the UNC alleged that the figures given above speaks volume about the blatant 'communalism' that informs every decision of the Government of Manipur.

The Nagas and tribals can never expect a fair deal now or in the future from the Government of Manipur, it alleged.

There are seven divisions for the mere 2238 sq Kms of the valley districts whereas there are only six divisions for 20089 sq Kms of the five hill districts.

Tribal population which constitutes 41 per cent of the State's total has only 20 MLAs who represent 34,180 electorate each on the average while the 40 MLAs from the valley represent only 25,575 electorate each and just 58 per cent of the population.

Victimisation and suppression that arise from skewed and engineered arrangement is across the board, be it with bureaucrats, professionals or other employees, contractors, businessmen, development, education, sports employment et al.

In the name of law and order, every function is shut down in the hills and development of the hills takes place in the valley where normalcy reigns with more than 20-30 armed groups, it alleged.

The only option is peaceful parting of ways in good neighbourliness and it is not narrow or parochial politics.

It further urged every Naga wherever they are to take up ownership of the movement for securing an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.