New Delhi, December 20 (MExN): Taking serious note of the escalating tension, the Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi (CJNCSD) had strongly condemned the violence, wanton desecration, vandalization and torching of Churches. In its statement, the CJNCSD termed the whole sequence of events as “state-sponsored” and “handiwork” of the State Government. It also blamed the United Committee Manipur (UCM) over the events and dubbed both the State Government and the UCM as “rabidly communal” and “anti-Naga”. The Committee, in particular, took exception to the “incendiary” and “anti-Naga” slogans such as “There are no Nagas in Manipur”, and “If you are a Naga, go to Nagaland and the Nagas are refugees in Manipur” and termed the same as “a form of ethnic persecution”. Taking a jibe at the subsequent call of the Manipur Chief Minister and UCM for communal harmony, the CJNCSD ridiculed the move as a “political gimmick”. CJNCSD asserted that the present turmoil “is the last straw” for the Nagas to reaffirm its stand “that total separation of the Naga areas from the valley is the only recourse to permanent solution" and thus appealed for the immediate intervention of the Government of India to that effect. CJNCSD further informed that the Committee along with a UNC delegation met the Union Minister of State, Kiren Rijiju on December 19 seeking immediate intervention of the Government of India. The following demands were also reiterated during the meeting: Immediate nullification of the creation of the seven new districts; Unconditional release of the UNC leaders; To expedite the finalization of the Framework Agreement; Imposition of President’s Rule in the State of Manipur; Deployment of security forces in the Naga areas to protect the Nagas and their properties from the communal forces of the State; Immediate CBI enquiry into the incident, and Compensation for the victims.
