Centre holds tripartite talks over creation of new districts in Manipur

In an effort to solve issues pertaining to the state, the Centre held tripartite talks over the creation of new districts in Manipur, on Saturday, at the DRDA office at Senapati District Headquarters in Manipur.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary In-Charge of North-East Satyendra Garg chaired the high-level talks, while many ministers including three cabinet ministers of the Manipur Government were also present at the meeting.

Also, 12 delegates from United Naga Council including Gaidon Kamei, President of the UNC also participated in the talks.

During the deliberation, the United Naga Council expressed its resentment over the recent state government's decision on not considering any reversal of the decision on new districts.

Joint Secretary (Northeast) Satyendra Garg said that anything said outside the purview of talks should not be "considered."

Speaking on the meeting, Satyendra Garg said that progress has been made and the ministers have noted down the concerns of the UNC.

"They have mentioned that they will take back the concerns to the government of Manipur at the appropriate level and after discussion, I am sure they will respond to it. We have agreed to meet in September 2017 again," he said.

Speaking on the same, President, United Naga Council, Gaidon Kamei, also talked about the meeting and said that the Manipur Government had sent political level delegation to join this political talk, as discussed in the last meeting.

"In our talk, we expressed our resentment to the serious views and action that has taken by the Manipur government and dishonoring the proceedings of last two tripartite talks," he said.

At the meeting, the state government and the UNC consented to "mutually respect" the agreements signed in the previous talks to avoid any further provocation and unwanted actions.

This they say is to happen till the dialogue process is taken to its logical end.

In terms of the agreement of March 19, 2017 talks, the government of Manipur has agreed to initiate "appropriate steps" to redress the grievances of the United Naga Council with respect to creation of new districts.

On the other hand, the people from the newly created Kangpokpi district staged a protest on 'No rollback of Kangpokpi district'.

The seven new districts were created in last 2016 by then Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh-led government.

However, the Naga community voiced against the state government's decision as they claim that the decision was taken without consulting to the Hill Area Committee.