Dimapur, June 14 (MExN): Taking into account appeals made during subsequent meetings held in Delhi, with Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Naga Students’ Federation has decided to temporarily suspend its ongoing agitations with effect from 6:00 pm of June 15, 2010. However, the federation has said that it would resume its agitation any moment “if the Government of Manipur fails to fulfill the demand of the federation in toto.”
The NSF delegation called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today in Delhi. The NSF apprised him of the present situation in the Naga areas. Speaking to The Morung Express from Delhi, NSF President Mutsiikhoyo Yhobu said that the PM assured he would convey their demands to the Manipur government, while closely monitoring the situation. The PM assured the delegation that he and the Government of India are serious in finding an honorable solution to the Indo-Naga issue, Yhobu said. The PM also requested the federation to lift the blockade so as to create peaceful atmosphere to carry forward the political dialogue. The NSF informed that the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing for about 50 minutes and informed the Naga delegation that he respects the uniqueness of the Naga culture and civilization.
The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister. The five-point memo, handed out to the media, highlighted the actual sequence of events. The federation pointed out that the Manipur government forcibly imposed the Autonomous District Council election against the will of the Naga people, which led to the ongoing agitation. The memo said it was the Manipur government who started the present impasse when it refused to let the NSF federating units and subordinate bodies from holding the NSF’s Federal Assembly on May 7, at Oinam village under Senapati district in the state of Manipur. The Manipur government opted out democratic means and decided to use force instead, which aggravated the situation, the memo stated.
The NSF further pointed out that while the humanitarian issues in regard to the shortage of essential items in Imphal valley are noted, nobody seems to bother the “Quit Notice” being issued by some Meitei organisations to Hindi-speaking people including Bengali and Assamese living in Manipur.
The NSF pointed out that the “Nagas in general are only responding befittingly in a more democratic manner as per the demand of the situation. ‘We have no hesitation to say that the Government of Manipur’s style of functioning is dictatorial in every sense of the term and the present state of affairs is almost emergency-like situation because the voice of the tribal especially the Nagas have been suppressed and the free movement of the Naga people have been curtailed.”
The federation also appealed to the government of India to recognize “Nagas desire and right to live together under one political roof”. The NSF has strongly urged the PM to prevail over Manipur government or the situation would go beyond control if the Manipur government is given free hand to do things at whim and fancy. The NSF further urged the PM to issue specific directives to the Government of Manipur to withdraw Manipur commandos, Manipur Rifles and other state forces from the Naga areas and to revoke the arrest warrants issued to some Naga leaders. Other delegations of the NSF met the All Assam Students’ Union in Guwahati, All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union in Itanagar, Khasi Students’ Union in Shillong, Mizo Zirlai Pawl in Aizwal, Tripura Students’ Federation in Agartala and apprised them of the ongoing agitation. While condemning the actions of the Government of Manipur, the counterparts of the NSF appealed to the federation to relax the ongoing agitation so as to create peaceful co-existence among the neighbouring communities. The federation made it clear that it will extend all support to the ANSAM and UNC in any course of action as the issue raised by them are a paramount concern for the Nagas.
According to the Press Trust of India reports, the Naga leaders while addressing a press conference in New Delhi earlier in the day accused Union Home Secretary G K Pillai and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of being responsible for the present crisis. The Press Trust of India quoted Achumbemo Kikon, Advisor, Naga Students' Federation as saying that "Singh is not concerned about the cause of the people but was involved in politics. His government was on the verge of collapse. Hence, he manipulated the itinerary related to Muivah's visit to motivate his people, resulting in the blockade...”. “We are not happy with Union Home Secretary G K Pillai. He is manipulating the words in favour of Manipur government.”
Earlier in the day, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said the Centre has decided to send more security forces to remove the 65-day-old blockade of two national highways that form the vital economic lifeline for Manipur. The Home Ministry has decided to send 16 companies (about 1,600 personnel) of central paramilitary forces to assist Manipur government to clear the blockade on the highways. Besides, six companies (600 jawans) are also being sent to Nagaland. Pillai said the chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur will meet here on Wednesday to review the situation.
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