While the violent conflict that exploded on May 3, 2023 in Churachandpur district and its bordering areas of Bishnupur district where Kuki-Zomi militants started their attacks on Meitei civilians, burnt down houses and destroyed properties to ashes or dusts has been continuing for 17 months (501 days as on September 14, 2024), issue relating to creation of news districts where all the ethnic groups of Manipur have their stakes rises again.
Even though the creation of new districts is the within domain of the State Government, the United Naga Council (UNC) has sent a 15-day ultimatum to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging for immediate redressal of the creation of seven new districts. The UNC also warns of an intense agitation if the issue is not addressed within the stipulated time.
In the letter to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the District Commissioner, Senapati district on September 11, UNC president Ng Lorho and general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang stated that there had been social unrest in the state of Manipur in the backdrop of arbitrary creation of seven new districts by bifurcating parent districts on December 8, 2016 during the Congress regime without the informed consent and knowledge of the stakeholders – dishonouring the four memoranda between Government of Manipur (GoM) and the Naga people and the assurance from the Government of India (GoI) in 2011, that no decision would be taken without consulting all sections of the people and all stakeholders, including Naga bodies representing the Nagas.
The UNC reminded that consequent upon the creation of seven new districts, a massive protest including an economic blockade was launched in all the National Highways for 139 days in the State. The UNC further stated that as many as 10 (ten) rounds of Tripartite Talks amongst the Government of Manipur (GoM), United Naga Council (UNC) and Government of India (Gol) had taken place to redress the issue, the last talk being held on March 9, 2019 with the assurance that concrete proposal shall be placed by the government of Manipur in the next round of talk supposedly proposed to be held by the last week of July 2019. They also stated that the Union Home Minister is aware of this.
“In this regard, the United Naga Council has made its stance loud and clear through media outlets, reiterating their rigid position against the arbitrary, undemocratic and divisive declaration of 7 new Districts on 8th December 2016 by the then Government of Manipur,” the UNC said. The UNC also asserted that subsequent decision or any rulings passed by any institution or authority on the matter stands rejected.
The UNC said that in light of the above, a missive has been sent to the office of the Special Secretary (erstwhile Jt. Secretary), Northeast, MHA, Gol. for resumption of the tripartite talk on January 22, 2024 and a prompt reminder on February 23, 2024.
“However, a reply either in affirmation or negation is yet to be responded to the aggrieved party i.e. the United Naga Council”, the UNC said, adding that, in view of this, the United Naga Council in its COUNCIL ASSEMBLY held on 29th May 2024 and the subsequent Presidential Council meeting of the UNC held on August 9, 2024 had unanimously resolved to launch an intense agitation to ensure that seven districts created on December 8, 2016 are rolled back and reinstated to status quo in the spirit of four standing MoUs and assurance of the GoI.
“We believe in dialogue and have therefore tacitly appealed to redress our grievances through petitions but having turned a deaf ear to our plea, the Nagas have resolutely taken a decision to set a stipulated period of fifteen (15) days to address the issues w.e.f the date of submission of the ultimatum”, the UNC said. The UNC has also warned that on the expiry of the stipulated period of time, the Naga people will take up an intense form of agitation until the demands are met.
The UNC also urged the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to create a vital space and congenial environment to rectify the errors of the past that will surely prove beneficial to all concern and restore confidence and usher in peace in the State.
It may be mentioned that even though there were no direct opposition to creation of seven new districts in 2016 from the people of the new districts, the UNC imposed economic blockade on the National Highway 2 and 37, the only lifelines of Manipur from November 1, 2016 in protest against the creation of seven new districts much before the official announcement of the new districts.
Note worthily, only after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Nongthombam Biren came into power in 2017, the UNC lifted the 139 days economic blockade on the midnight of March 19, 2017. The resolution of the lifting of the indefinite blockade was taken following an agreement in a tripartite talk on March 19, 2019 at Senapati between the Government of India (GOI), Governmenr of Manipur (GOM) and UNC including representatives of its constituents – All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Women’s Union (NWU).
However, the UNC continues its opposition to the creation of seven new districts on December 8, 2016 by the then Government of Manipur. On September 27, 2023 again, the UNC reiterated its rejection of the declaration of seven new districts.
The UNC in the release issued on September 27, 2023 said that in the wake of the ethnic conflict that has engulfed the state of Manipur since May 3, 2023 in the midst of violently manifested geographical and demographic contestation between the conflicting parties, it has become critical for the Nagas to bring out to the public domain the unsettled issue of the rejection of the creation of seven new districts on December 8, 2016 by the then Congress ruled State Government of Manipur.
The UNC has clearly placed in the public domain and in its memorandum to the government of India that the Nagas will not accept any disintegration of Naga land or any act that will adversely affect the interest of the Nagas while attempting to address demands by any other community.
While there is no vehement opposition from the people of the newly created seven districts, the stake of other communities particularly Nagas and Meiteis is very high over the formation Kangpokpi district now dominated by the Kukis. Notably, Imphal East district is puzzled with Kangpokpi district.
The transformation of Sadar Hills under Senapati district as Kangpokpi district is one of the factors which embolden the Kuki-Zomi-Paite leaders – both militants and politicians to claim a swathe of Manipur as exclusive territory for them. The UNC also appears to have apprehensions that the geographical areas of Manipur where the Nagas settle ancestrally will be occupied by the Kuki-Zomis as if their exclusive territory in the event of the Government of India granting some kind of political autonomy to the Kuki-Zomis as they have been demanding in the wake of the violent conflict.
Moreover, creation of districts at different time periods after the merger of Manipur with India on October 15, 1949 is one of the roots of the violent conflict that continues in Manipur and remains a fountain for ethnic identity politics and exclusive territory.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
