The tripartite talks on the issue of creation of new districts in Manipur involving the Central government, the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Government of Manipur resumed on Saturday in New Delhi after a long hiatus.
During the talks on Saturday, it was decided that the next round of talks will be held on November 15, 2024, in Senapati district.
It is worth noting here that, the previous government led by O Ibobi Singh of Congress had created seven new districts including Kangpokpi bifurcating the erstwhile Senapati district on December 8, 2016.
In protest against that act of the Manipur Government, the UNC had imposed 139 days of economic blockade along the national highways which pass through Manipur.
With the coming of BJP led government the blockade was lifted and tripartite talks involving the Centre and state government followed.
The first round of talks was held on March 19, 2017 at Senapati district headquarters followed by several rounds of talks.
According to the UNC sources, Saturday’s talk was held in a “cordial atmosphere and it was mutually agreed that further progress will be made by engaging in a sustained manner in order to resolve the issue in a time bound manner keeping in view of the previous commitments”.
The seven-member UNC team was led by its president Ng Lorho. The other members of the team are UNC general secretary Vareiyo Satshang, Covenor Samsom Remei, Secretary AC Thiiso, former President KS Paul Leo, Naga Women’s Union President Pricilla Thewmai and ANSAM President Luckson Luikang.
The Central government side was represented by AK Mishra who is Advisor, North East, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), while the Manipur Government was represented by Vineet Joshi, Chief Secretary and N Ashok Kumar, Commissioner (Home), the UNC sources further informed.
The United Naga Council (UNC) on October 2 had called off the proposed 48-hour total bandh in Naga areas effective from the midnight of October 3 has been temporarily suspended.
The development came following an official invitation for Tripartite Talk on the issue of District Roll Back amongst the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council on October 11 at New Delhi and at the request of the Representative of the MHA, Gol and Security Advisor, Northeast, stated a release by Information & Publicity Secretary, UNC, James Hau.
It acknowledged the unflinching support and cooperation from the constituent units, subordinate bodies. It further appealed to the Naga frontal organisations and the Naga populace in general to remain steadfast and be prepared for any course of action until their demand is met.
It can be recalled here that, on March 19, 2017, the UNC lifted the 139-day economic blockade imposed on national highways after the Manipur Government “recognised the grievances” of the UNC. The terms of agreement of the March 19 talks on the issue says that “the grievances of the UNC which led to the imposition of the economic blockade by them was recognized as there was non-adherence to the four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Government of India’s assurance on the matter.
