Blockade tends to Continue – Court remands Gaidon in judicial custody

There sees no end to the 99 days long blockade of the United Naga Council as its presidential council has resolved to continue to fight against the allegedly grabbing Naga’s land on the pretext of administrative convenience till the creation of the new 7 districts is withdrawn.
An emergency Presidential Council of the UNC was convened today in Senapati to consider the outcome of the tripartite meeting of the government of Manipur, government of India and the UNC held on February 3 at New Delhi.
In the statement released by S. Milan, general secretary, UNC said the issue of declaration of 7 new districts by the government of Manipur on 8th December, 2017 without consulting the stake holders in utter disrespect of the 4 memorandum of understandings signed with Naga organizations and assurance given by the ministry of home affairs was the core issue to be discussed in the tripartite talk.
The GoM only pleaded its helplessness on taking up the core issue in the talk as the election code of conduct, which has come into effect from 4th January 2017, prohibits any political decision for roll back or otherwise either by the GoM or the GoI. The next tripartite talk for taking up the core issue was then scheduled for the 25th March, 2017.
The central and the state government moved for creating a conducive atmosphere for the next tripartite meeting and it was agreed that none of the parties would go to the press on sensitive matters discussed in the talk. But the CM of Manipur has triumphantly stated in the media that the core issue has not been put on the agenda and that the UNC protest would be called off, added the statement.
The Presidential Council reaffirmed that Nagas and their land are inseparable. It also resolved that the Nagas have rejected the declaration of 7 new districts on 12th December, 2016 and strongly demonstrated the rejection with the mass rally held in Naga district headquarters on 15th December, 2016.
The presidential council asserted there is constitutional safeguard and protection for the tribal people in Manipur under the Constitution of India – Article 371C (2): “The Governor shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding administration of the Hill areas in the State of Manipur and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of direction to the State as to the administration of the said areas “.
It was further resolved that Nagas would also reject and fight against any other moves that would affect our land and identity.
The UNC president Gaidon Kamei and his secretary S. Stephen were today produced at the court of chief judicial magistrate Imphal East. The court remanded him for 15 days in judicial custody on the charge of creating violence to transporters along the National Highways.