Imphal, February 14 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has termed the decision of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to declare the United Naga Council (UNC) an unlawful organization as “a direct challenge to the existence of the Nagas”.
The CLP decision “amounts to undermining the rights, interest, sentiments and aspiration of the Naga people and suppression to their legitimate democratic rights to protest even at the time of infringement upon their rights”, a press release from the ZYF stated.
While defending the UNC’s protest as “democratic agitation” against the wrong policy of the State Government, the ZYF maintained that the CLP decision is the “manifestation” that the Naga people of Manipur are separate and distinct groups in the eyes of the Manipur Government. This justifies the Naga people demand to live separately outside the Government of Manipur, the front argued.
“Therefore, the Government of India should expedite the Indo-Naga political negotiation by arriving at the peaceful permanent settlement at the earliest,” the Zeliangrong Youth Front stated.
Citing the arrest of UNC functionaries and leaders, the Front accused the Manipur Government of “suppressing the collective voice of the Nagas of Manipur” from time to time and insisted that the present economic blockade in Manipur is the “creation and mismanagement” of the Congress led Government.
ZYF faulted the Manipur Government for not consulting stakeholders despite the fact that it had itself signed various MoUs while the Government of India had also given assurances stating that the Naga people and stakeholders will be consulted prior to creation of any new administrative set up or new districts.
The plan to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged revenue districts in complete violation to MoUs and Assurance was the reason which has compelled the Naga people spearheaded by the United Naga Council to launch democratic agitation by imposing economic blockade on National Highways since the midnight of November 1, 2016, the ZYF argued.
The Front made it clear that the UNC, a conglomeration of sixteen indigenous Naga tribes, is the apex civil body and social organization representing the entire Naga people in the State of Manipur. The UNC was formed to pursue common social issue and fight for justice in order to protect and safeguard the ancestral land, custom, tradition, culture, constitutional and legal rights of the Nagas in the State of Manipur and is well recognized for its “unquestionable services” rendered towards the cause of the people since inception, the Youth Front insisted.
“The Naga people fight to get justice, peace and tranquility under the banner of the United Naga Council will sustain and gain momentum to defeat the communal policy of Manipur Congress Legislature Party,” the Zeliangrong Youth Front asserted.
