Imphal, April 12 NNN: The United Naga Council (UNC) has been irked by the reported comment of Manipur Home minister Gaikhangam on the “NSCN-IM day-dreaming’ news item.
Manipur Home minister Gaikhangam was reportedly reacting to the news item which mentioned that Greater autonomy status for the Nagas is likely to be the outcome of the NSCN-M-Government of India talks with separate financial and administrative control in parts of Manipur and the North East.
On Thursday, the UNC said, “The statement of Gaikhangam, the Home minister of the government of Manipur and presdent of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on the supposed options that are emerging in the Indo-Naga dialogue to find an honourable settlement to the Naga issue reeks of utter disrespect of the Naga people and their political aspirations”. The Naga body added that although Gaikhangam himself is a Naga by blood he describes as ‘day-dream’ to the almost 6 decades of bloodshed and struggle of the Naga people for their rights to live together as a people. “The Naga movement for their political asprations, based on their history, has unfortunately dragged on for so long because of individuals like him (Gaikhangam) who have betrayed the mandate of the people for te proverbial 30 pieces of silver,” the UNC stated.
The Naga body then added that Gaikhangam was not so long ago a champion for Naga integration and a signatory to the memorandum demanding for integration of Naga areas submitted to the Prime Minister of India on May 27, 2005 by 11 MLAs and two MPs. “The 30 pieces of silver have indeed turned him into a different person today,” the UNC said.
It then stated that the NSCN-IM is having a dialogue with the government of India with a view to negotiate a settlement to the protracted Indo-Naga issue. “Mr Gaikhangam, who is the Home minister of a state under the Union of India has the audacity to state that such a process that has brought peace in our land is a daydream,” the UNC then said.
Instead of facilitating the peace process, as is his duty, this Naga becomes the spoilsport, for the applause from the gallery which threw down the silvers. “Does he really believe in what he has uttered?,” the Naga body asks while adding, “But history will record his due place in its pages”.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unc-reacts-to-hms-statement/
