The domination of many years by the Manipuri’s (Meiteis) in Manipur State is finally coming to an end with the positive steps and bold decision taken by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga Peoples Front (NPF). The UNC’s decisions of withdrawing bandhs and boycotting of election and openly challenging the Manipur Congress Govt. let by Shri Ibobi Singh through electoral votes for their long grievances in the coming Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2012 is a positive and correct step. The UNC’s decision was blessed with the bold step taken by NPF to extend its political wing to Manipur State. The UNC is now able to unify the Manipur Naga voice through NPF. All the Naga People in Manipur should thank the NPF led by Shri Shiirhozelie, President, NPF and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio by voting for the NPF candidates. Those who do not vote for the NPF can be considered as foolish to the core and all their sufferings and contributions in the past for the civil rights agitations against the Govt. of Manipur through UNC becomes meaningless.
The NPF which is contesting 12 seats in the Manipur Legislative Assembly Election 2012 is winning all the 12 seats as per reliable information. It is making possible because the voters are not looking at the candidates capacity or integrity, but voting for the issue of Naga Integration, Tribal people integration, protection of Identity and territorial protection. Because all these are becoming vulnerable for the tribals of Manipur. For example the LAND REVENUE REFORM ACT: The Manipur Government in the name of the LAND REVENUE REFORM ACT is trying its best to take the land of the hill areas. And one day or the other, they will take the land if the tribal people do not act now. For the Meiteis, they need the land to expand their habitation otherwise with the present 2,238 sq. km (including Jeribam …..?) and a population of about 14 lakhs, where will they go and stay?. The tribals with a population of about 7,55,444 occupies about 20,095 sq. km of land. Since the economy of the tribals depends on the forest, the tribals cannot afford to give the land to the Meiteis.
The 12 NPF candidates after being elected will most probably sit in the opposition bench in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. However, even if they are in the opposition they can now legally raise the grievances of the tribal people in one voice which was not possible at all in the past. Under the dynamic leadership of Shri Neiphiu Rio and the guidance of NPF, the Naga elected members will now have to make one voice and no more many voices like in the past. And this one single voice of the NPF MLAs can now materialize what Hon’ble former Prime Minister of India Shri Pandit Nehru and Union Home Minister G.B. Pant said about the Nagas and Kukis in the 1950s and 1960s.
A PERSONAL LETTER FROM NEHRU TO MEDHI No. 1116-PMH/56, New Delhi, May 13th 1956: “One of their (Nagas) grievances is that under our constitution we split them up in different political areas. Whether it is possible or desirable to bring them together again is for us to consider. Also what measure of autonomy we should give them…..”
G.B. Pant, Union Home Minister in 1961 said “…Frankly….disintegration of present Manipur would be an inevitable phenomenon and naturally the Nagas would have to join their Nagas, and if they so choose even the Kukis too should be given, as far as geographical position permits, the choice to join the Mizo’s who are more akin to the Kukis.”
Dili Solomon
Dimapur
