Newmai News Network Senapati | November 1 The United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored 48 hours "total shut down in Naga territories" in Manipur ended today. However, the indefinite economic blockade on national highways including the banning of the construction of Trans Asian Railways, Jiribam to Tupul and other national projects in all the "Naga territories" in Manipur continues. The UNC has been agitating against the "lopsided decision" to create the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts and against "state sponsored terrorism by the communal government of Manipur". The Chief Minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh was reportedly invited to Kut festival at Kangpokpi town to grace the occasion. However, the Chief Minister did not turn up to attend the programme. Sources said that the Chief Minister had plan to declare the creation of Sadar Hills district during Kut festival at Kangpokpi. It could be due to the Nagas' strong opposition the Chief Minister had changed his plan. Sadar Hills is within Senapati district. Meanwhile, speculations are doing the round now that the Kuki organisations are waiting to get the Kut festivity over to assert their demand on Sadar Hills district creation. Sources said Kuki organisations may resort to strong agitation demanding the declaration of the Sadar Hills formation from the Manipur government. It is learnt that the Chief Minister had consulted the Naga legislators few days ago on the Sadar Hills issue. Sources said the Naga legislators fervently asked the Chief Minister not to declare the Sadar Hills district formation. The Naga legislators had even threatened to resign if Sadar Hills district is created, according to the sources. Two days ago, the UNC had warned that Ibobi Singh "shall be held responsibility" for any eventuality if it goes against the letter and spirit of the four Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and written assurance. According to the UNC, the wishes of the indigenous Naga people on the issue of the "so called Sadar Hills" have been expressed in the 4 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur on December 14, 1981, between the Government of Manipur and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), November 10, 1992 between Government of Manipur and Naga Students’ Federation(NSF), September 27, 1996 between the Government of Manipur and United Naga Council(UNC) and ANSAM and on June 23, 1998 between the Government of Manipur and UNC and ANSAM agreeing upon that “not even an inch of Naga ancestral land and its original should be touched while creating any new district” and also written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on November 24, 2011. "It is the obligation of every Naga people to protect and defend our ancestral land, people, identity, history, tradition, culture, custom and time honored-institutions at all cost. We are the owner of our land and we will never allow anyone to decide for the Nagas. We strongly opposed to the proposed creation of the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam sub division into a full fledged revenue districts," the UNC added.
