UNC presses for alternative arrangement outside Govt of Manipur

Imphal, Nov 11 : Drawing attention to the discrimination in the allocation of development funds, the United Naga Council (UNC) has alleged that the allotment of funds was “on communal lines by the Government of Manipur whereby Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts were omitted and insignificant amount provided for Senapati district”.

In this regard, a press note issued by the UNC Publicity Wing pointed out that the only option left was the “peaceful parting of ways in good neighbourliness”. Using this instance, the UNC has stated that “every Naga, where ever they are positioned must therefore take up ownership of the movement for securing an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue”.

The UNC reminded that the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur had solemnly declared on the 10th November, 2012 that the State Government was committed to the development of the hill districts in view of their special needs while addressing some students at Senapati. But it stated that the figures (see box) spoke volume of the “blatant communalism that informs every decision of the Government of Manipur”. “Where is the development for the hills to take care of its special needs in the light of hard facts?''

The UNC has as such stated that the Nagas and tribals can never expect a fair deal now or in the future from the Government of Manipur. There are 7 Divisions for the mere 2238 sq kms of the 4 valley districts and only 6 Divisions for the 5 hill districts of 20089 sq kms, it stated. Tribal population which is 41% of the state’s total has only 20 MLAs who represent an average electorate of 34,180 each while the 40 MLAs from the valley represents an average of only 25,575 electorates and just 58% of the population, the UNC argued.

“The victimisations and suppression that arises from this skewed and engineered arrangement is across the board - be it with bureaucrats, professionals or other employees, contractors & businessmen, development, education, sports, employment . . . In the name of law and order every function is shut down in the hills and the development of the hills takes place in the valley where normalcy reigns with more than 20-30 armed groups”.