Nagas in Delhi intensify their agitation against arrest of UNC leaders in Manipur

The Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi (CJNCSD) yesterday organised a mass protest rally at Jantar Mantar to further intensify their protest against the arrest of the two United Naga Council (UNC) leaders and the unconstitutional formation of the new seven districts.

Thousands of Nagas thronged the streets of Jantar Mantar chanting "Nagas shall defend their land to the last man standing" and effigies of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his deputy Gaikhangam Gangmei were burnt down.

The CJNCSD raised serious doubt on the political intention of the central government for its continued silence on the issue and questioned why the Centre has not raised even a single question to the Manipur Government for the imprisonment of the two UNC leaders and the unconstitutional formation of the new seven districts.

The CJNCSD states that Nagas have been defending every inch of their ancestral land, liberty, identity and dignity with blood and tears since the mighty British times and dares the Government of Manipur to attempt to carve out even an inch of the Naga ancestral territory in the name of formation of new districts.

The CJNCSD reaffirms that Naga issue is a political issue and vows to stand its ground with UNC till the unconditional release of the two incarcerated UNC leaders and rolling back of the proposed seven districts.

Stating that the UNC has been observing partial peaceful shutdown along the national highway which absolutely is a legal and democratic form of protest, the CJNCSD further stated that Ibobi and paid valley-based media ingeniously coined the term "economic blockade" to criminalise the Naga political issue and illegally arrested the president and the information secretary of UNC.

The CJNCSD also submitted another memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterating the following demands: immediate nullification of the creation of the seven new districts; unconditional release of the two UNC leaders; to respect the 3rd August Naga Framework Agreement and to expedite the finalization of the Framework Agreement; imposition of President's Rule in the State of Manipur; CBI enquiry into the 18th December, 2016 communal violence against the innocent Naga civilian passengers at Imphal and immediate compensation for the victims.