IMPHAL, September 22: Leaders of United Naga Council (UNC) met Ashok Prasad, Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India during his visit at Imphal and strongly apprised and urged him to intervene immediately on the out-rightly rejected bills and resolutions passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31.
A statement of UNC informed that the Naga frontal body also submitted a representation to the Special Secretary in this regard.
It pointed out that the Nagas tribal and the Meitei Kingdom hardly share common origin and history and also, identity, culture, tradition and time honored institution.
“™The Nagas had been living in a village republic free from internal and external forces since time immemorial. Our land is unique and only the Nagas with few other communities accept the Meiteis of the valley living in Nagalim. We have been made a part of Manipur not through the conquest of Meitei Maharajah nor by our consent`™`™, the statement said.
The UNC contended that the present situation being created at Churachandpur district in the aftermath of the killing nine innocent civilians including a minor on August 31 and September 1 by the State security forces consequent upon the passing of the most controversial `anti-tribal`™ bills and resolutions by the State Assembly on August 31 while defending tribal rights is nothing but a deliberate attempt of the government to suppress, oppress and exploit tribal rights and grab their land.
It may also be noted that the State forces had used rubber bullets for the valley protestors while live bullets were used against the peaceful loving and democratic tribal protestors in tribal hill areas, it further claimed.
The UNC in the statement also urged to take up all possible steps to expedite historic Indo-Naga framework accord to its logical conclusion at the earliest.