Fight for our cause, Nagas tell Manipur politicians

An influential Naga organisation’s diktat to political parties not to field candidates in the 11 Naga-dominated assembly segments of Manipur for the January 28 polls has ruffled the feathers of the ruling Congress in the state.

The diktat, issued by Manipur’s apex Naga organisation United Naga Council (UNC), was aimed at securing the victory of Nagaland’s ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF). The party from Nagaland has fielded 12 candidates in the hill districts.

The Congress and also the Meiteis feel the NPF’s debut in the state’s electoral politics and the subsequent decree by the UNC was part of the greater design to promote Naga rebels’ demand for ‘Greater Nagaland’ by slicing off the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

“We are not worried at all nor do we have any time to fight these elements,” former Manipur chief minister and sitting Congress MP, Rishang Keishing, told DNA.

The NPF Manipur unit said the UNC diktat had been misconstrued.

“It’s true the UNC is backing NPF. But it hasn’t issued any ban. It has criticised the Congress for not standing up for the cause of the Nagas and told other parties to contest only if they are committed to the integration of the Nagas,” NPF Manipur unit president Kho John said.