Naga areas shouldn’t be touched by any arrangement — Manipur Naga MLAs

DIMAPUR — Naga areas should not be touched if any arrangement is made to end the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, Naga legislators have told the government of India.

A delegation of 10 Naga MLAs and Lok Sakha MP Dr. Lorho Pfoze from Manipur conveyed this to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting in New Delhi on June 7 to discuss the ongoing issues in Manipur.

It came amid the Kuki community demanding a separate administration following violent clashes with the Meiteis since May 3 that has cost at least 98 lives, injured hundreds and rendered thousands of people homeless.

Citing land dispute in Naga areas that has been there for years and issues that cropped up after separate administration was announced for certain areas in the past, the delegation requested the Home minister to consult the Naga people before any arrangement is implemented in order to avoid further escalation of the situation in Manipur.

For the Nagas, the arrangement should come as per the ongoing peace process between the government of India and the Naga political groups, the Home minister was told.

This was informed during a press conference at Niathu Resort in Chümoukedima called by the 10 Naga MLAs — Awangbow Newmai, L. Dikho, N Kayisii, Ram Muivah, Dinganglung Gangmei, Leishiyo Keishing, Khashim Vashum, SS Olish, J Kumo Sha and Janhemlung Panmei — on Friday.

Describing the meeting as “very meaningful”, Newmai said the Home minister assured them that all communities would be consulted and find a consensus in case any arrangement is made.

When asked if the Naga MLAs in Manipur have demanded a separate administration during the meeting, Newmai replied that they didn’t make any such demand but clearly conveyed that Naga land should not be touched in the event of any arrangements as it would create more problem.

In regard to arrangement for the Nagas, it should be based on the ongoing peace process and the final solution between the Nagas and government of India, he said, adding that they were all hoping for a permanent solution to the Naga political issue.

When asked about the stand of the Naga MLAs on the current situation in Manipur, he said Nagas people are peace-loving people, never start a war and don’t want their friends and neighbours to engage in violence. He added that they are trying to reach out to the warring communities – Meiteis and Kukis – so that they can come together and talk out the issues.

He also said that the central government is resorting to delaying tactic, as Shah is very much aware of the situation in Manipur and understands the sentiments of the people, which is why the Centre is not in rush.

However, the situation is comparatively under control now, he said.

The Naga MLAs also lauded the Home minister during the meeting for bringing the situation in Manipur under control and apprised him that they along with the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha MP, who is a Naga, have been making sincere efforts to foster understanding between the two warring communities and looking at the possibility of bringing them to the negotiating table in order to regain normalcy.

Newmai said that Naga legislators have been actively reaching out to both the civil societies and government representatives to express their concerns and intention to resolve the issue in Manipur at the earliest.

It was informed that the home minister had told the delegation that restoring ‘peace should be the foremost priority’, and only after can the rest of the issues be discussed.

Meanwhile, NPF legislator Losii Dikho said that all the Naga MLAs of the state and the people have come together ‘for the first time in many years’ to solve an issue of the state and the region. “This is historic,” he said, adding that the delegation was satisfied with the response of Amit Shah.