IMPHAL, February 26: The United Committee Manipur has denounced the statement of joint secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Sambhu Singh of constituting a high level committee along with the state government in the next ten days with mandate to study “Alternative Arrangement” of the UNC.
Speaking to media persons today, UCM president Y Nabachandra said the attitude of the government of India is “inconsiderate” towards Manipur.
The press conference was held at the office of the UCM.
The MHA has never been considerate about the people of the state and has always tried to befool the public, he said.
The Centre should however, not forget the uprising of 2001 in a bid to safeguard the integrity of the state.
The GOI has made several statements on the issues confronting the state, however, it should not invite the occurrence of more uprisings as the public cannot tolerate any disturbance on the territorial integrity of the state, he asserted.
He alleged that the GOI has always tried to bring ethnic confrontation amongst the different communities residing in the state.
He further appealed to the people to understand the role played by the Centre.
Y Nabachandra stated that the joint secretary, MHA should have perceived the fallouts before announcing anything.
He further expressed shock and surprise over the statement of the joint secretary regarding discussion of the setting up of high level committee with the state chief minister.
In a veiled attack, he said the public is surprised over the government sending state representatives to participate at the tri-partite talk with a group which was once pronounced “wanted” by the government.
“Silence on the part of the government cannot be the right move.”
He further demanded a clear cut information on the constitution of the high level committee.
Nabachandra further condemned the statement made by Nagaland chief minister Nephiu Rio at the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival at Tamenglong that the meiteis are the neighbours of Nagas and the Manipur Chief Minister is the enemy of the Nagas.
Such statement from an outsider is not acceptable, he lamented.
Instead of interfering in the internal affairs of another state, it would be better for the Nagaland chief minister to solve problems of his own state which has arisen out of the demand for a new state to be carved out of the present Nagaland.
He said the Eastern Naga Peoples’ Organisation has been demanding the formation of the Eastern Nagaland by bifurcating the present Nagaland.