IMPHAL, March 28: Reacting harshly to the Governor’s address inside the Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 19 for omitting the tripartite talk of the state government, centre and the United Naga Council on the ‘alternative arrangement’, the Naga body has stated that it takes strong exception of the Governor’s address.
A press statement of the Naga body has informed that even though the Governor in his address had mentioned the agreements between the state and armed groups, he had left out the tripartite talk which had been in place since last year.
It has further stated that the Governor’s address reflects the lack of respect for civil and democratic movements and instead seems to be promoting armed movements alone.
Further criticizing the address, the statement has decried that the office of the Governor of Manipur had all these years failed in its constitutional duties as stipulated under 371(A) which enjoins the Governor to submit an annual report to the President of India on the administration of hill areas of Manipur.
It has further lamented that the address had lauded the state government for its achievements, which the statement has also mentioned to be non-existent in the hills.
“The stubborn irrelevance being indulged by the exalted office of the Governor is an insult to the Nagas and tribals in Manipur. The Governor of the State cannot be Imphal/valley centric for he is not the Governor of Imphal valley alone and must address the grim and grave issues that the hills areas are submerged in. When the social divide obtaining in the state has become markedly pronounced and the situation explosive, the Governor’s address tilted towards the interest of the dominant community further vitiates the environment” the Naga body further charged in the statement.