Tripartite talks on district creation likely to resume this week

Newmai News Network

SENAPATI | OCT 2

Tripartite talks involving the Central government, the State Government and UNC on district creation issue are likely to be held within this week. UNC sources said that there has been communication among the three parties since last Saturday in this regard.

The Naga body had recently given the 48-hour deadline to the Central government and the State government to make their ‘clear-cut’ positions on the district creation issue talks.  The deadline had already lapsed on Sunday.

According to sources, formal invitation for talks from the ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), government of India, is likely to be extended to UNC and the state government on October 3. Following this development, UNC has decided not to go ahead with its plan of taking up of its course of action.

Meanwhile, UNC president Gaidon Kamei said that the Naga body will wait and see for few more days. Talking to this reporter this evening, Gaidon Kamei said that they are “extremely serious” with the next tripartite talks on the district creation issue. However, he did not elaborate further on his comment.

According to UNC, on September 15 it had asked the ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), government of India, regarding the latter’s position on the next tripartite talks.

It may be recalled tripartite talks on district creation issue was held at Senapati on August 11. The three parties had agreed upon to hold next round of talks in the month of September.

The August 11 talks were brought up to the ‘political level’ with the participation of three cabinet ministers of Manipur, which included agriculture & veterinary minister V. Hangkhanlian, tribal affairs & hills minister, N. Kayisii and education & labour and employment minister, Th Radheshyam.

Apart from the three cabinet ministers, additional chief secretary (Home) J. Suresh Babu and commissioner (Works & IPR) K. Radhakumar Singh had also participated in the talks. A large number of UNC team had participated in the August 11 talks chaired by Satyendra Garg, the joint secretary of the ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), government of India.