Newmai News Network
Senapati | August 20
A delegation of over 10 Naga leaders, led by the United Naga Council (UNC), is scheduled to hold talks with central government officials in in New Delhi on August 26 concerning the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and border fencing issues.
According to sources, the delegation will comprise the UNC's current executive members, its former presidents, and leaders from the Naga Women's Union (NWU) and the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM).
The talks come after AK Mishra, Advisor (North East) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, formally invited the UNC for the talks, it stated.
Speaking to NNN, UNC president Ng. Lorho said the decision to proceed with a planned agitation would be contingent on the outcome of the meeting.
He stated that the Nagas “will not accept any dilly-dallying tactics” from the government and also “the approach of the Government of India should reflect the sentiment of the Naga people and their (Nagas) seriousness on the issue.”
This meeting follows a previous appeal made by Naga leaders to the Governor of Manipur on August 16, in Imphal where they insisted that the talks must include officials from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence. The UNC had issued a 20-day ultimatum to the government on July 22, which lapsed on August 11. Subsequently, an emergency presidential council meeting of the UNC held in Senapati resolved to announce a mode of agitation within 15 days, if their demands were not addressed.
The Naga delegation is expected to depart for New Delhi on August 25.
