The leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) on Tuesday reiterated that the economic blockade will not be lifted till their demand of a rollback of the Manipur government's decision on the carving of the seven proposed districts, is met.
In a press release issued on Wednesday morning, the UNC said that it "reiterates the rejection of the creation of 7 (sic) new districts and resolves to continue to fight against the insidious design of grabbing our land on the pretext of administrative convenience till the same is withdrawn."
The move followed reports wherein Chief Minister Ibobi Singh's assured to lift the blockade in the next two days, in exchange of the release of two UNC leaders --President Gaidon Kamei and Information and Press Secretary Sang Khel Stephen, who are under arrest currently.
The UNC alleged that in the tripartite talks held in New Delhi "it was agreed that none of the parties would go to the press on sensitive matters discussed in the talk."
The move, however, will not come in the way of elections in the areas of the state where the blockade still continues. These include Tamenglong district located near the National Highway 37, and in Senapati district near National Highway 2.
Speaking to DNA over the phone from Imphal, Chief Election Officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan said that a contingency plan is on order, and elections will continue. "We had a meeting with all the District Magistrates on January 20, where we discussed a contingency plan in case the blockade continues. The three most important things -- manpower, security and poll materials -- are in order, and we are going to the polls as per schedule," said Dewangan.
The UNC leaders said that their decision has been communicated to MHA Joint Secretary in-charge of Northeast, Satyendra Garg, who is currently in Imphal to take a look at the situation. In the tripartite talks held between MHA officials, including Garg, UNC leaders, and representatives from Manipur state government including Additional Chief Secretary.
The UNC maintained during the meeting that it will not take any decision without consulting the Naga Hohos in Manipur, while the state government representatives said that with the code of conduct in place, no decision will be taken before the polls end. MHA officials, however, said that a decision will be taken only when the atmosphere is conducive, and decided to head to the state before any step is taken.
"The state bureaucrats said that it was a political decision, and only the state government can decide on it. Quite frankly, we were waiting to hear this, because we were sure that it is CM Ibobi Singh's way of ensuring that he can manage some political mileage from this issue," said Seth Shatsang of the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM).
The MHA has proposed another round of talks, likely on March 25 even though a definitive date has not been announced yet. Manipur goes to polls on March 4, with a second round of polling to happen on March 8.
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