Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): The United Naga Council of Manipur (UNC) has not taken kindly to a Manipur legislator moving a bill in the Lok Sabha recently, seeking protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur state.
The UNC issued a statement today taking note of the “reported introduction” of a private member’s bill in the Lok Sabha by Dr. Thokchom Meinya for protection and preservation of the territorial integrity of Manipur “for all time to come.” Calling the move and instance of “perpetuation of the hegemony of the dominant community over the tribals” in the state of Manipur, the UNC said “keeping the tribals and Nagas under the Meiteis is not the birthright of the Meiteis.” The UNC’s statement was issued by the organization’s publicity wing.
The tribals and Nagas have been persistently struggling for political empowerment to pursue their aspirations as peoples, the UNC said. This fact is “registered in history” even before the merger of Manipur.
The UNC explained – “The Nagas in the present state of Manipur were independent of the Manipur Maharaja. A dual system of administration for the hills and the valley was introduced after the British annexed the Meitei kingdom of Manipur in 1891.”
The council stated that the tribal and the Nagas live in their own lands that do not belong to the Meitei rulers. “The hills were surreptitiously co-opt into Manipur for marginalisation. The protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur is in the interest of the Manipuris but it is definitely not in the interest of the tribals and Nagas in the State, for it means perpetual suppression in every aspect and denial of their rights to their identity, land, culture, traditional practices – a future without dignity and honour,” the council said.
Stating that the Indian Constitution provides space for accommodating the aspirations of peoples, minorities and tribals in the country, the UNC said that Manipur state’s contention for territorial integrity is ‘unconstitutional.’
“Territorial integrity of Manipur is unconstitutional. The introduction of the above bill bears testimony of the social divide in Manipur which arises out of the imposition of the interest of the dominant community upon the tribals and Nagas in Manipur.”
Keeping the Tribals and Nagas under the Meiteis is not the birthright of the Meiteis, whom Dr Meinya represents in the Parliament, the statement said.
“Tribals and Nagas, it is reiterated, will not and cannot tolerate Dr Meinya’s agenda for perpetual subjugation of the tribals and shall continue to resist it with all possible means.”
