IMPHAL, Nov 16 (Newmai News Network): The United Committee Manipur (UCM) on Friday said it wants to hold consultations with the United Naga Council (UNC) and Kuki State Demand Committee (KDSC) on issues dogging in Manipur.
It however categorically stated that the UCM cannot accept any sort of demand that might infringe upon the integrity of Manipur except for safeguarding the territorial integrity together and live in harmony among different ethnic communities in the state.
“We want to hold consultations involving the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC), United Naga Council (UNC) and UCM over various grievances emanating from different aspirations and let us together approach the concerned authority to address issues,” UCM president, YumnamNabachandra told a press conference held at the committee’s office at Lamphel this evening.
Making it clear that the people of Manipur has been strongly opposing the idea of disintegrating the state territorial integrity that has been hooked up in the peace talks between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, Nabachandra said that amidst the strive to bring a Naga political solution a voice for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas has been pitched up.
“If such demand comes out to be a bar to the harmonious relations among the ethnic communities of Manipur we cannot agree to it at any cost for the simple reason that the UCM with the support of the people are against such claim” the UCM president further vowed.
UNC is throwing unnatural blames to UCM over the indisputable stance of the committee and the people as one, Nabachandra said coming out clean that the committee works for all the communities in the state and not for a particular community.
He also pointed out that the demand for a separate state by KSDC has take in the five hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur which has already been included in the proposed incorporation of all the Naga inhabited areas.
“This conflicting demand has made the UCM to feel the fear of the outlandish communal clashes between the Kukis and Nagas that continued from 1992 to 1997,” he stated.
The UCM leader further acknowledged that the UNC and KSDC at times have the habit of blaming the valley when they raise their respective demands. He said it is true that there are a lot of areas which are neglected by the state Government but just like that there are several places in the valley too which are deprived of their privileges.
Saying that Manipur lags behind other states in the country, Nabachandra also appealed to all the stakeholders to understand the reality and tried to clarify that the valley communities do not misuse the benefits of the hill communities but such big mistake is to be blamed on the Government only.
Further strengthening his remarks, he said that the Manipur Secretariat is not dominated by the valley people in any way. He also cited examples of futile attempts of bandh and blockades imposed earlier on several occasions to raise various demands.