UNC raises objection to constitution of Boundary Commission

The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur raised objection to the constitution of Boundary Commission by Manipur Government in the tripartite talk held today at Senapati district.

Representatives of Centre, Manipur government and the attended the tripartite talks.

Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Satyendra Garg, who represented the Centre said the tripartite talks ended on a "positive" note and the Union government is trying to mediate to find a solution to the issues.

Garg said the UNC had reservations about the setting up of the District Boundary Commission put forward by the state government in todays meeting.
 

President of UNC, Gaidon Kamei told reporters that the Boundary Commission constituted by the state government for redrawing the inter district boundaries is not acceptable and that UNC and the people are firmly against it.

Nevertheless, following todays talks, Kamei said the UNC will see the commitment of the state government and later course of action will be decided accordingly.

Manipur additional chief secretary (Home) Suresh Babu, who represented the state government in the talks said the districts were created for the purpose of upgradation of the administrative set up.

He said the talks were "positive" though UNC had serious objections to the issue of constituting of the Boundary Commission.

Earlier, the state government, on its part, had made its stance clear that the creation of seven new districts will not be rolled back.

Seven districts, namely, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi, Kakching, Noney, Jiribam and Kamjong were bifurcated from existing nine districts last year.

The UNC is against the creation of the seven new districts.

Meanwhile, 230 Kuki chiefs from different parts of the state during a consultation meeting yesterday had resolved that that the tripartite talks should not infringe the interests of other communities and dismissed the demand to roll back the creation of seven districts, adding the state government should keep in mind that the hills of the state are not inhabited by Nagas alone.