Centre Invites UNC to Resume Talks on District Restructuring in Manipur

The talks will resume in New Delhi on October 11 and will be attended by representatives of the GoI, Manipur Govt. and the UNC.

In a big development, the Centre has officially invited the United Naga Council, the apex Naga body in Manipur, for resuming talks surrounding their demand to rollback the creation of 7 new districts by bifurcating parent districts, a decision which was taken during the Congress regime on December 8, 2016.

The Centre’s fresh invitation for talks comes after the UNC called for a 48-hour shutdown with effect from midnight tonight in protest against the alleged delay by the government in resolving the issue.

As per inputs, the talks will resume in New Delhi on October 11 and will be attended by representatives of the Government of India, Manipur Government and the United Naga Council.

After receiving the invitation, the UNC has announced that it has temporarily suspended its proposed total bandh in Naga areas on the issue of District Roll Back.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the UNC said that the temporary suspension of the proposed 48-hour total bandh is in response to “the request of the Representative of the MHA, Gol and Security Advisor, Northeast.”

However, the UNC has appealed to all the Nagas to remain steadfast and be prepared for any course of action until the demand is fulfilled, while acknowledging the unflinching support and cooperation from the constituent units, subordinate bodies, various Naga frontal organizations, and the Naga populace in general.

Inputs further suggest that in a letter, the MHA officially communicated to the Chief Secretary of Manipur about the resumption of these discussions.

A.K. Mishra, Advisor for the Northeast, has been appointed to represent the Ministry of Home Affairs in the talks.

Worth mentioning, the UNC in its Council Assembly held on August 9 had unanimously resolved to lanch an intense agitation to ensure that 7 districts created on December 8, 2016 are rolled back and re-instated to status quo in the spirit of 4 standing MoUs and assurance of the Government of India.

Following this, the UNC had stipulated a 15-day period to the government for resolving the issue and warned of further escalating its agitation if things remained unchanged.

Earlier, on January 22 this year, the UNC sent a message to the office of the Special Secretary Northeast MHA for resumption of the tripartite talks, followed by another reminder to the Centre on February 23.

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