Imphal: Opening a new window of uncertainty in the ongoing sectarian violence in Manipur, the 10 Naga MLAs who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (June 7) reportedly told him that any solution to end the ethnic unrest in the state should not touch the areas inhabited by the Naga people.
Speaking to media persons in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, after meeting with leaders of the NSCN (IM) at Camp Hebron, the head office of the Naga insurgent group, Manipur’s Water Resources Minister Awangbou Newmai said the 10 MLAs had a meaningful discussion with Shah on the present situation in Manipur. During the meeting, they told him categorically that their Naga areas should not be touched in the event of any arrangement for a separate administration.
It may be noted that the 10 Kuki MLAs including seven of the BJP, in a joint letter to the Union Government said that a separate administration for the ethnic community was “the only solution” for ending the clashes between the Kuki-Zomi people and the majority Meeteis.
Newmai, accompanied by his Cabinet colleague and Transport Minister Kasim Vasum, Outer Lok Sabha MP Lorho Pfoze and other MLAs, said they told Shah that touching the Naga areas for any solution will create more problems… any arrangement for Nagas should be based on the peace process between the NSCN-IM and the government of India.
MLA Losii Dikho (Mao AC), earlier, said that the 10 Naga MLAs met Shah on June 7 evening upon his invitation to solve the problem of Manipur violence. Losii also said that discussions with Shah were meaningful.
“Amit Shah conveyed to us very very clearly that in the event of any plan for Separate Administration or any other arrangement, all the three communities will be consulted properly,” Newmai also added.
Of the 60 Assembly seats in Manipur, 20 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Ten of these are represented by MLAs belonging to different Naga communities while the other 10 are represented by leaders of the Kuki-Zomi tribal group.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to visit Manipur tomorrow
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will visit Manipur on Saturday, news agency ANI reported.
The Assam CM will meet his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh and others in the backdrop of the ongoing tense situation in the state. With agency inputs
