Senapati, Jan 30: The 13th round of tripartite talks between the Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and the United Naga Council (UNC) was held on Thursday at Senapati District Headquarters. The discussions focused on the UNC’s demand to roll back the creation of seven new districts in Manipur, which were notified by the state government on December 8, 2016. The UNC has been strongly opposing the decision, arguing that it was taken arbitrarily without consulting the Naga people. The state government’s move to bifurcate districts has been a longstanding point of contention, leading to repeated negotiations over the years.
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A 12-member delegation from the UNC participated in the discussions, led by its President Ng. Lorho. Other members of the delegation included Vice President N. Gonmei Poujan, General Secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, Speaker W. Kohring Victor, Convenor of the Working Committee Samson Remei, Member Secretary AC. Thotso, and Working Committee members KS. Paul Leo and L. Adani. Representatives from allied organizations such as ANSAM, NWU, and NPO were also present, including M. Luikang Luckson, Th. Angteshang Maring, Ch. Priscilla Thiumai, and H. Kuba Peter.
Representing the Government of Manipur were Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh and Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar. The Government of India was represented by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (Northeast), Ministry of Home Affairs. During the discussions, the UNC leadership reiterated their demand for the rollback of the seven districts, emphasizing that the decision had disrupted the traditional administrative structure of Naga-inhabited areas. They argued that the move had political motives and did not consider the sentiments of the Naga people.
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After extensive deliberations, it was mutually agreed that the representatives of the Manipur government would present a proposal in the next round of tripartite talks, which is scheduled to be held in April 2025. The outcome of this meeting is expected to determine the way forward in addressing the UNC’s concerns.
The creation of new districts in Manipur has been a contentious issue since the state government issued the notification in 2016. The move led to strong protests from the UNC, which viewed it as an attempt to divide Naga-inhabited areas without their consent. Over the years, several rounds of negotiations have taken place, but a final resolution is yet to be reached. With the April meeting on the horizon, both sides are now looking toward a possible breakthrough in the long-standing dispute.
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