The four-month economic blockade in Manipur, imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC), was lifted on Sunday midnight following the talks it had with the Union and the State governments. The UNC had imposed the blockade in protest against the creation of seven new districts by the then Congress-led government “as it was in contravention to Greater Nagalim” envisaged by the group.
“Tripartite talks succeeded in addressing the issues and the UNC has agreed to lift the economic blockade. The government of Manipur took note of the grievances of the UNC, including that of them not being consulted while creating the new districts. The UNC has to now frame what exactly their point of view is. Initially they had asked for non- bifurcation of Senapati and Jiribam districts. They will have to clear their stand about the entire seven districts. Manipur government will consider whatever changes they want,” said Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, who signed the tripartite agreement on behalf of the Centre.
Asked if the newly elected BJP government in the State would roll back the decision of creating seven new districts, the official said: “At the moment there is nothing like a rollback; there are many stakeholders.”
To release activists
“The government of Manipur will unconditionally release the arrested UNC leaders and all the cases related to economic blockade against the Naga tribes leaders and students leaders will be closed. Next tripartite talks will be held within a month at the political level,” a statement issued by the three parties said.
The statement was signed by Mr. Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Manipur, J. Suresh Babu, UNC general secretary S. Milan and All Naga Students Association president Seth Shatsang.
On February 3, the first round of the tripartite talks was held in Delhi, and the Centre had then said “substantial progress” was made but the talks failed later on February 7 when they were held in Senapati district in Manipur.
The UNC was represented by its president Gaidon Kamei and his publicity secretary Shankhen Stephen, who were brought from an Imphal jail to Delhi to attend the talks at North Block. Both Mr. Kamei and Mr. Stephen were arrested last November
The Centre had then said that it was not going down to bow down to the demands of UNC and would not initiate any dialogue now.
On Sunday the talks succeeded, though Mr. Kamei and Mr. Stephen were not present at Senapati, where the talks were held.
The UNC operates under the patronage of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), with which government of Indian signed a framework agreement in 2015 to find a solution to the decades old Naga issue
BJP national leaders had promised to lift the blockade within 48 hours of the formation of a BJP government in Manipur. The four MLAs of the Naga People's Front have joined the BJP-led coalition government.
