TELLS HM TO EXCLUDE NAGA AREAS IN ANY ARRANGEMENT FOR KUKIS
A delegation of ten Naga MLAs from Manipur that included five NPF members- Manipur Transport minister Khashim Vashum, Leishio Keishing, Awangbow Newmai, Ram Muivah and Losii Dikho; two BJP MLAs S.S. Olish and Dinganglung Ganmei, two NPP MLAs N Kayisii and Janghemlung Panmei including Independent member J Kumo Sha, accompanied by Outer Manipur MP Lorho Pfoze of NPF had met Shah in Delhi to discuss the issue of demand for a separate administration within Manipur by Kuki-Zomi MLAs.
On return the delegation halted at Dimapur where an interaction was held with media persons at Niathu Resort at Chümoukedima on Friday.
NPF member Awangbow Newmai disclosed that they held “meaningful discussion” with Amit Shah on the present situation in Manipur.
The delegation expressed gratitude to Shah for his prompt action in bringing the situation under control in Manipur and also their efforts to bring both the warring communities to an understanding to restore normalcy.
Newmai said the delegation conveyed to the Union minister that in the event of any arrangement for separate administration for Kukis, Naga areas should not be touched since that had been a contentious issue for many years. He said they pointed out to Shah that there had been many issues and problems in the past too when separate administration were created in Manipur.
The delegation further urged upon Shah that in the event of creating any separate arrangement, Naga people should be consulted in order to avoid further escalation of the current situation.
“Naga areas should not be touched because that would only create more problems,” he stated.
Newmai also revealed that the delegation requested Shah that in the event of any arrangement for the Nagas, it should be as per the ongoing peace process between the Nagas and the Central government.
He claimed that Shah had assured them that in the event of any plan for a separate administrativeset-up, all three communities of Manipur – Kukis, Meiteis and Nagas – would be properly consulted.
To a query , Newmai replied that no other demands were made apart from excluding Naga areas in case of any separate arrangements.
On the role of Naga MLAs in the crisis-hit Manipur, he asserted that Nagas were peace-loving citizens and that they had tried their best to reach out to both sides to come together and negotiate.
He also dismissed the contention that the current crisis in Manipur was part of delay tactics adopted by the Centre vis-à-vis the ongoing Naga peace process since the home minister was very much concerned over the situation.
He also declined to comment whether the current Manipur crisis was related with religion but said the matter was “a very sensitive issue”.
He also denied that the Nagas have been silent on the matter by referring to a peace committee formed in trying to reach out to all communities. “We are silent in the sense that we are not siding with anyone,” he clarified.