IMPHAL, February 20: United Council Manipur strongly condemned the statements’ given by two neighboring Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Mizoram in the recent Lui-Ngai-Ni festival held in Ukhrul on February 14 and February 15.
Speaking to the media persons at its office, UCM President Elangbam Johnson said that the statement given by Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on the integration of Naga inhabit areas touching four States including Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland is an impossible dream.
He said the same demands have been made by NSCN-IM since 1997 when the first peace talk was initiated by Government of India and NSCN-IM. Still the people of Manipur have stood against this particular demand for so many years. Zeliang’s statement in this occasion was only a reiteration of the NSCN-IM demands.
Johnson also observed that several problems are creating inside Nagaland, the still Chief Minister of Manipur or any other responsible persons from Manipur has not given any statement interfering into the affairs of internal matters of Nagaland like Zeliang.
He appealed the Nagaland Chief Minister to stop giving provocative statements and campaigning to disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of Manipur.
The UCM President also condemned the Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla statement citing that the three bills were anti hill people and asking him that in what ground the bills are anti tribal. The problem of influx refugee and migrant from Myanmar into Mizoram is well evident from the fact that the “Bru” problem in Mizoram is national issue now.
A bill is which is mainly to protect the ingenious communities of Manipur has been denounced by Mizoram chief minister who has been strong exponent of safe guarding population in Mizoram but not accepting the same theory in the neighboring State which is something unimaginable and also surprising to us, he added. Saying that his statement is totally having an intention to bring disunity or creating confusion, mistrust between peoples of hills and valley.
Johnson further said that the rally which was organised by three organisations AMUCO, UCM and CSSK on the February 6 last, was branded as majority rally by two CSOs in Nagaland is also condemnable and appealed the concern organisations not to repeated such statements’ in the future.