We Hold Key To Manipur Peace, Naga Body Tells SC

New Delhi, Mar 10 : At a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition on Manipur being cut off from the rest of the country due to frequent blockades of the national highway, the United Naga Council on Monday audaciously told the court that there could be no peace in Manipur without the conglomerate's "consent and guarantee".

The petition was filed in the aftermath of the over month-long blockade of NH-39 by Naga groups at Mao, resulting in a severe economic crisis in Manipur. Essential commodities became scarce and their prices skyrocketed.

Referring to the recent lynching incident in Nagaland, advocate Prashant Bhushan wondered whether there was something called "law and order" in the state.

However, senior advocate B B Sanyal, appearing for the Naga Council, told the court that the council should be made a party to the pending litigation. "Without consulting us and without our guarantee, there will be no peace in Manipur," he told the court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu impleaded the Naga Council as a party to the pending litigation and allowed Manipur standing counsel Sapam Biswajit to file response to the council's application.