IMPHAL, Nov 28: The United Naga Council (UNC) urged the Nagas not to extend any form of support to the appeasement policy of the Government of Manipur in the Nagas and Tribal areas especially the upcoming Orange festival due to be held on December 9.
A statement issued by the publicity wing of the UNC, stated that the communal government of Manipur by adopting its anti Naga and tribal policies and by sponsoring state terrorism had suppressed, oppressed and exploited the Nagas and tribal people by terrorizing them till date for which the Naga people had declared severance of all political ties with the Government of Manipur as our land, history and peoples’ rights are not secured under the present oppressive political system.
The Naga people should not succumb to the appeasement policy of the state government in enticing the people in the guise of organizing different forms of festivals in Naga and tribal territory just to fulfill and strengthen their selfish political objectives, it urged.
This government has not been addressing the rights and interest of the orange growers and thereby, production is decreasing year by year, it alleged adding that there is a strong apprehension that a day will come when people of Tamenglong district will celebrate Orange Festival san orange fruit.
Once again, the O. Ibobi Singh government is organizing the ‘Orange Festival’ in Tamenglong district head quarter on December 9th 2015 by spending crores of Rupees in the name of Orange, he said. The government have made several hollow/empty promises in favor of the poor and needy orange growers of the district but nothing has been shown or done practically till date. It is most surprising to note that no Horticulture and Agriculture offices and staff are found in the district, it claimed.
It said even the UNC encourages and supports the spirit of the festival, it appealed to all the Naga and tribal people not to extend any forms of support and co-operation to anti Naga and tribal Chief Minister and his Deputy Chief Minister branding the leaders as ‘Judas of Tribal and Nagas’ in the Orange Festival, 2015 being organized and sponsored by the communal Government of Manipur. And also, as decided, banned from entring in Naga territory. The UNC also appealed to the Naga and tribal general public to stand unitedly against all forms of oppressive policy of the state government till they achieved their long cherished political aspiration.