RESPONDS TO ALL POLITICAL PARTY MEETING, A TUSSLE

Pothashang News Service

Imphal, October 29: Following the Saturday’s all political party meeting convened by chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh Political parties and organisations speaks out over the over six decades long ongoing peace talk between the NSCN IM and the government which was expected to bring an end to Naga issue ahead of Nagaland election.

Congress has sought clarification from the government for absence of Naga People’s Front (NPF) in the Meeting and demanded for a special assembly session to discuss the issue.

The United Naga Council (UNC) has warned Naga elected members at this most crucial moment that whoever among them is working against the “collective history” of the Nagas will not be spared.

United Committee, Manipur (UCM), has pressed that the ongoing political dialogue between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India should have no room for any arrangement such as a separate administrative system.

Two NPFs has come out with different statements.

Former chief minister Okram Ibobi yesterday questioned why the Government of India is still not revealing what is in the ‘Framework Agreement’ signed between the two sides on August 3, 2015 to the people of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh repeatedly assured that any solution to the Indo-Naga peace talk would not affect the territorial integrity of Manipur.

It is no secret that NSCN-IM has been demanding integration of all Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to form a greater Nagalim, said Ibobi.

Ibobi asked for clarification of absence of NPF in the crucial meeting. Saying that NPF is a partner of the BJP-led coalition government, Ibobi said NPF’s absence at the crucial meeting about preserving the integrity of Manipur aroused deep suspicion among the people.

During the July state assembly session held, the government had persuaded Congress to withdraw a private member resolution on protection of integrity of Manipur citing that it had already adopted a resolution on the issue. “Has this state government’s issue forwarded to the government of India?” asked Ibobi.

It would be disastrous if a separate administrative unit is set up within the territory of Manipur even if whatever solution worked out does not affect the territorial integrity of Manipur, added Ibobi.

The United Naga Council (UNC) yesterday cautioned Naga elected members that whoever among them is working against Nagas will not be spared. The warning came up from the Naga body came at the backdrop of the all political parties meeting.

It will not remain silent to all those who are against the Naga interest by different elements including the Manipur government.

UNC has asked Nagas not to extend co-operation or involve in any programme which is attached with the names of the “seven new districts”. It further asked the Naga people to remain fully aware of the “designs of our adversaries”.

UNC and UCM say both are closely observing what is happening as concerned to the issue.

The ongoing political dialogue between the NSCN (IM) and the government of India should have no room for any arrangement such as a separate administrative system, said general secretary of UCM, Y.K. Dhiren during a one day discussion on the ongoing negotiation between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, especially with the signing of the Framework Agreement, organised by the Manipur Peace and Integrity (MAPI) Council and Youth Development Organisation (YDO) at Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai in Imphal East yesterday.

For the last two decades, the Indo-Naga talks have been recurring negative influences on Manipur. From the objective of achieving an independent Nagaland, the goal has changed to forming Greater Nagalim and this campaign is still in full swing, added Dhiren.

He said government of India has been turning a blind eye to the excesses of the NSCN IM ranging from murder to extortion.

The Framework Agreement is still kept concealed and it has only increased the mistrust and suspicion, added Dhiren.

In a statement released by W. Morung Makunga and general secretary (administration) Honreikhui Kashung in connection with the all political party meeting stated that NPF Manipur State unit would not participate in the all political parties meeting said party’s state unit president and cautioned that if any NPF leader/member participated in the meeting, they should not be counted as official representatives of the party. NPF Manipur state unit would work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue, added the statement.

As against this another statement served yesterday the NPF, MSU asserted that Awangbow Newmai’s tenure as the president of the NPF MSU is from 2015 to 2020, as per the official approval given in the general convention of the party held on November 26, 2014.

The appointment of Morung Makunga as the president of NPF, MSU came only after the crisis erupted at the centre, said the statement and added that it was done only to confuse the people.

Hence the claim that Morung Makunga is the president of the state unit of the NPF is illegal and unofficial, and this is done to mislead the people and disturb the peaceful environment under the present government led by Biren Singh, added the statement.