Dimapur, November 11 (MExN): The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGS) held a meeting with the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Integration (COCOMI), a conglomeration of Manipur based civil societies, on November 10.
According to a press release issued by the WC, NNPGs Media Cell on Wednesday, the consultation was necessitated because the progressive and harmonious relationship between the Nagas and Meiteis, with one respecting the other's ancestral domain, customs, tradition and practices, “faced rough weather owing to impractical ideology and discomforting political stance of few” in the last few decades. The Naga-Meitei brotherhood, both sides agree, cannot be dictated by haphazard and preposterous sentiments, it added.
The meeting, which was held between Convener N Kitovi Zhimomi and six Co-conveners along with COCOMI leaders, “reaffirmed that Nagas and Meiteis have a larger role to play in the ethno-social political reorganisation of the indigenous peoples in the NE. The meeting hinged on the need to mutually co-exist as brothers and as peaceful neighbours, like in the centuries past,” the release stated.
It underscored that “Naga and Meitei generations must avoid living in perpetual fear and mistrust of each other.”
As per the release, the WC, NNPGs sought to reassure the COCOMI leaders that the impending Indo-Naga political solution will be in the interest of Nagas, Meiteis and all other communities.
“Any new political or administrative arrangement or structure that respects and promotes Naga history, culture and identity, without altering the present boundary of Manipur, Arunachal or in Assam as a result of Indo-Naga solution, and which benefits all communities must be appreciated,” it stated.
It said that the COCOMI delegation appreciated the pragmatic political stand of the WC, NNPGs and the progress achieved through political negotiations while expressing solidarity and hope that “negotiations between the Nagas and GOI would conclude without delay.”
The meeting agreed that more interaction and people to people dialogue is necessary to forge a strong indigenous ethnic communities’ platform “to meet the ever threatening demographic invasion of NE states.”
“The NE people cannot live in isolation because the danger is too big. Common issue must be tackled through concerted effort,” the release stated, adding that all neighbouring states were anxiously expecting a positive Indo-Naga political agreement.
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