The 10 Naga MLAs have made it clear that Naga people should be consulted before any arrangement is made keeping in mind the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and the Nagas. ‘Peace should be restored first’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told them in Delhi.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Thursday had categorically asked the 10 members Naga MLAs from Manipur that bringing peace in the state should be the priority while the “rest” could be discussed at a later stage.
Chairing a press briefing at Niathu Resort, Chumoukedima, after the delegation’s meet with union Home Minister on Thursday evening, enroute to Manipur, MLA L Dikhu, who represents the Mao constituency said that the 10 Naga MLAs went to the national capital New Delhi on the invitation of the union Home minister.
Terming the coming together of the Naga people of Manipur to help bringing solution to the current issue, historic, Dikhu said that the visiting team briefed the union home minister about the concerns which the latter responded positively.
Minister, water resources, relief and disaster management, Manipur, Awangbow Newmai, while sharing the outcome of the team’s visit to Delhi mentioned that the team had an meaningful and fruitful discussion with the union home minister on June 8 evening with regard to the present situation in Manipur for which the 10 members delegation appreciated the “prompt action” of the union home minister in bringing the situation in Manipur under control.
He informed the media that the 10 Naga legislators from different political parties including the NPF cutting across party lines have been trying their best to bring both the communities into an understanding and are working out the possibilities to negotiate amongst one another so as to bring the situation to normalcy.
“We have been doing our best on our own level and also show our concern about how things have been becoming worst during the last few days”, said Newmai while adding that the team also conveyed to the union home minister that in the event of any “arrangement” for separate administration, the Naga areas should not be touched as it has been a contention for many years and the same issue or problem while separate administration was made in Manipur for which the same was conveyed to Shah stating in case of such arrangements were made in order to avoid further escalation of the situation, Naga people should be consulted properly before any arrangement is made keeping in mind the ongoing peace process between the government of India and the Nagas.
Newmai said, “in the event of any arrangement for separate administration–we have told him very clearly that our Naga areas should not be touched because that has been in contention for many years. As we all know, there has been a lot of issues and problems in the past when separate administration was made in Manipur. The same thing we have conveyed to him that in case of such arrangement in order to avoid further escalation of the situation. …We told him that we should be consulted properly before any arrangement is made and as we have an ongoing peace process. In the event of any arrangement for the Nagas, who would like the arrangement to come as per the peace process that is going on between the Nagas and the Government of India.”
In this regard, Newmai informed that the union home minister has conveyed to the visiting team very clearly that nobody would be left out in case of any plan for “arrangements”. In case, the the three major communities in Manipur- Meities, Nagas, and the Kukis should be consulted and bring into a consensus if such arrangements are made.