Manipur Naga legislators forum meets Amit Shah in Delhi

‘Consult Nagas before any arrangement that may arise out of present unrest in Manipur’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 9 

A legislators’ forum, comprising all ten Naga MLAs in the state of Manipur and the Lok Sabha Member from the Outer Manipur seat, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on June 7. The visit comes in the backdrop of simmering communal tension that has gripped the north-eastern state since the start of May. 

The team stopped over in Nagaland, on June 9, on their way back to Manipur, to address a press conference at the Niathu Resort, Chümoukedima. Convenor of the forum, Awangbow Newmai, NPF legislator from the 52 Tamei seat, told the press conference that the forum shared with Shah the concerns of the Naga people on the present situation in Manipur and reconciliatory efforts they have made. “We conveyed to him that the Naga legislators, including the MP of outer Manipur, that we have been trying our best to bring both the communities to an understanding and if possible negotiate with one another to bring the situation into normalcy again,” said Newmai, who is a Cabinet Minister in the N Biren Singh-led government and is also the President of the Manipur NPF unit. 

The other members included SS Olish (BJP, 41 Chandel), Leishiyo Keishing (NPF, 43 Phungyar), Ram Muivah (NPF, 44 Ukhrul), Khashim Vashum (NPF, 45 Chingai), J Kumo Sha (IND, 47Karong), Losii Dikho (NPF, 48 Mao), N Kayisii (NPP, 49 Tadubi),  Janghemlung Panmei (NPP, 53 Tamenglong) and Dinganglung Gangmei ( BJP, 54 Nungba). The Outer Manipur MP was not present. 

As told at the press conference, the major concern of the forum was any development or “separate arrangement” that would affect territorial boundaries as a result of the present conflict. Newmai said, “In the event of any arrangements for separate administration, we told him clearly that Naga areas should not be touched because that has been a contention for many years.” In the event of any new arrangement, “We told him (Shah) that the Naga people should be consulted properly.” He added that arrangement for the Nagas should be as per the outcome of the Indo-Naga Peace process. 

Shah, in response, assured of taking into consensus all the three major communities of the state — Meities, Kukis and Nagas — before going ahead with any deal. “He conveyed to us that nobody will be left out… But he said that there should be peace first,” Newmai said of Shah’s response.  

According to him, Shah is well aware of the situation in Manipur and the sensitivities involved, implying things cannot be rushed. 

As one of the three major communities and as legislators, he said, they have been trying to reach out to everyone, both civil and the government, to bringing a peaceful end to the issue at the earliest.

Since the conflict began, silence has been audible on the Naga side. Queried on this, Newmai replied, “Naga people are peace loving people. We don’t want any war with anybody and we don’t want our friends and neighbours to engage in war. We are trying to reach out to them and tell them that we should come together and negotiate if there is any issue.

That is the role that we are playing in Manipur.”

There have been claims and counter-claims from both sides, with one side terming it a hill versus valley communities’ conflict, while the other terming it a war against drugs and alleged illegal settlement on forest lands, and even ascribing a religious colour to it. 

He maintained that rumour and misunderstanding have also largely contributed to flaring the conflict.