Reaffirming their “rigid position against the arbitrary, undemocratic and divisive declaration of seven new Districts on December 8, 2016”, the United Naga Council (UNC) has sent a 15-day ultimatum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for redressal of the pending issue on the new districts. The council also warned of intense forms of agitations until the demands.
In the letter to the UHM Amit Shah through the District Commissioner, Senapati district, UNC president Ng Lorho and general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang stated that “there had been social unrest in the state of Manipur in the backdrop of arbitrary creation of seven new districts by bifurcating parent districts on December 8, 2016 during the Congress regime without the informed consent and knowledge of the stakeholders-dishonouring the four memoranda between government of Manipur and the Naga people and the assurance from the government of India in 2011, that no decision would be taken without consulting all sections of the people and all stakeholders, including Naga bodies representing the Nagas.”
Stating that the UMH is aware of this, the UNC continued that consequent upon this, a massive protest in the form of hartals and an economic blockade was launched in all the national highways for 139 days in the state. They further stated that as many as 10 (ten) rounds of Tripartite Talks amongst the Government of Manipur (GoM), United Naga Council (UNC) and Government of India (Gol) had taken place to redress the issue, the last talk being held on March 9, 2019 with the assurance that concrete proposal shall be placed by the government of Manipur in the next round of talk supposedly proposed to be held by the last week of July 2019.
“In this regard, the United Naga Council has made its stance loud and clear through media outlets, reiterating their rigid position against the arbitrary, undemocratic and divisive declaration of 7 new Districts on 8th December 2016 by the then Government of Manipur,” the UNC said. Hence, any subsequent decision or ruling passed by any institution or authority on the matter stands rejected, it added.
The UNC said that in light of the above, a missive has been sent to the office of the Special Secretary (erstwhile Jt. Secretary), Northeast, MHA, Gol. for resumption of the tripartite talk on January 22, 2024 and a prompt reminder on the 23rd February 2024.
“However, a reply either in affirmation or negation is yet to be responded to the aggrieved party i.e. the United Naga Council”, the UNC said, adding that, in view of this, the United Naga Council in its COUNCIL ASSEMBLY held on 29th May 2024 and the subsequent Presidential Council meeting of the UNC held on August 9, 2024 had unanimously resolved to launch an intense agitation to ensure that seven districts created on 8th December 2016 are rolled back and reinstated to status quo in the spirit of four standing MoUs and assurance of the government of India.
“We believe in dialogue and have therefore tacitly appealed to redress our grievances through petitions but having turned a deaf ear to our plea, the Nagas have resolutely taken a decision to set a stipulated period of fifteen (15) days to address the issues w.e.f the date of submission of the ultimatum”, the UNC said.
It warned that on the expiry of the stipulated period of time, the Naga people will take up an intense form of agitation until the demands are met.
The UNC stated that the UMH Amit Shah is expected to create a vital space and congenial environment to rectify the errors of the past that will surely prove beneficial to all concern and restore confidence and usher in peace in the state.
