Imphal, Oct 19: The demand for “Alternative Arrangement” from the centre for the Naga dominated hills districts in Manipur echoed Tuesday when Union Home Secretary GK Pillai, who is on his four-day visit to the state was in Ukhrul district to attend a development seminar for the district. A memorandum was submitted to Pillai, in which the members reiterated the decision by the United Naga Council in its meeting held on October 13 which stated: No demand for any developmental activities in the district.

In the memorandum, the district based civil organizations expressed their support to the July 1, 2010 declaration of 3rd Naga People’s Convention severing all political ties with the government of Manipur and demanding an alternative arrangement to fill the vacuum in the government administration.

“To protect and preserve our identity, we, the Nagas, in present state of Manipur have taken a firm decision to severe political ties,” the memorandum stated.

Further, in the memorandum the organizations also criticized the Manipur government for acting as a guardian to protect “inherent rights’ of the Naga people in the state, which stated: “It is impossible to protect our inherent rights to life, land, customary practices and values under the administration of the dominant and communal government of Manipur (GoM) …..”. The memorandum was signed by presidents of the TNL, TKS, TMNL, TSL and TWL.

Under the aegis of the United Naga Council, its frontal organizations organized rallies at the district headquarters-- Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel and submitted memorandum to their respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to hand it over to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Large number of people on Tuesday took to streets demanding an ‘alternative arrangement’. An estimated 3000 people gathered to participate in the rally that kicked off from Senapati ground while a low turnout was reported from Chandel district where an estimated 500 people took part in the rally. In Tamenglong district over 1500 people took part in rally. There was no rally held in Ukhrul district unlike in the other three district headquarters-- Senapati, Tamenglog and Chandel.

The memorandum to the Chandel DC was signed by Naga Women Union, Chandel, Chandel Naga People Organisation and eight others district based civil societies while that in Tamenglong district, it was signed presidents of Zeliangrong Boudi, Manipur, Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur.

It maybe mentioned that the UNC has been opposing the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in hills of Manipur inhabited by Nagas and other tribes. It has refused to accept the elections to these ADCs until the state government amends the Manipur (Hill area) District Council Act of 2008, which it claims restrains the functioning of the councils. - NP