Tangkhuls demand alternative administrative arrangement
Manmohan Singh and G.K. Pillai
Imphal, Oct 20 : Tangkhul civil society organisations today submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through Union home secretary G.K. Pillai to remind the Centre about the Manipur Nagas’ demand for an alternative administrative arrangement for them.
“We support and reaffirm the Naga Peoples Convention’s declaration made on July 1, 2010, seeking an alternative arrangement from the government of India in consultation with the Naga people at the earliest possible time,” the memorandum said.
Singh was also urged to expedite the process for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur.
The memorandum was jointly submitted by the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long and the Tangkhul Shanao Long.
An eight-member delegation of the citizens’ organisations met Pillai at the town hall of Ukhrul. The meeting lasted for about half an hour.
Pillai visited Ukhrul town today to attend a development seminar on Ukhrul district. He attended the one held for Imphal East in Imphal city yesterday.
Before the meeting, the people of Ukhrul took out a rally in the town in support of the demand for an alternative arrangement.
“Pillai should have visited Ukhrul to discuss about the Nagas’ demand for an alternative arrangement rather than attending a development seminar,” S. Milan, spokesman for the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur, said.
Spearheaded by the council, the Naga organisations in Manipur had raised the demand for an alternative administrative arrangement after the Okram Ibobi Singh government conducted elections to six autonomous district councils in five hill districts and prevented NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah from entering Manipur in May this year.
Efforts by Ibobi Singh to hold talks with the council leaders have not borne fruit. A delegation of the council met representative of Manipur government Rakesh Ranjan, resident commissioner, Delhi, during tripartite talks on their demand in Delhi on September 21.
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