48-hour total shutdown by the United Naga Council

The United Naga Council (UNC) called a 48-hour Bandh (total shutdown) to fulfill its demands on February 5th. Traffic movement was obstructed along Imphal-Moreh road (National Highway 2) by a large number of volunteers from Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organisation (CNPO) which has endorsed the UNC strike. The UNC said any attempt to sabotage the final Naga political settlement based on ‘unique history of the Nagas’ will never be compromised under any circumstances. The bandh has been called by the council amidst preparations for a Mass Rally for Common Future of Manipur in Imphal on February 6 th. The rally is being jointly organised by major social organisations All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), United Committee Manipur (UCM) and Committee of Civil Societies, Kangleipak (CCSK).  Thousands of people took part in the rally. All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur  questioned the ‘motive’ of the February 6th mass rally, saying the rally is grounded on the notion of territorial integrity and a majoritarian creation to perpetuate the oppression of the tribal people in Manipur. Religious programmes, earthquake related activities, medical, electricity, water supply and media have been exempted from the purview of the 48-hour bandh. According to UNC, a dual system of administration for the hills and valley came into existence after the British annexed the Meitei kingdom in 1881, saying the tribal areas were administered by the political department of the British Crown. It said the dual system of administration continued even after 1949 when the Meitei Kingdom was merged with the Indian Union along with tribal areas without their consent, through deception, and under protest of the Nagas and other tribal people. In his rally's keynote address, UCM general secretary YK Dhiren Singh condemned the Nagaland assembly for “repeatedly challenging” the “territorial integrity” of Manipur by taking resolutions on Naga integration. “It has been a great threat to the people of Manipur and its territory since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement between NSCN (IM) and Government of India way back in 1997,” Dhiren said. He termed as “baseless and unnatural” that the “majority community” in Manipur looks down upon smaller communities in the State. The UCM leader insisted that the Centre has been “made to believe” such allegations by a “handful of individuals working for their own interest.”   Dhiren said, “The hope for integration of Pan-Naga family and Supra State for the Nagas will never become true. We’ll not allow integration of Nagas living across the North-eastern region.” Referring to the Naga peace talks, he said the people of Manipur have the right to know the details of the Naga peace Accord signed between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. “The Centre should not conceal the Framework Agreement. We thank the Government of India for its serious political contemplation on the Naga problem but it should not take any wrong decision. The Centre needs to respect the people of Manipur too,” he added. Four key resolutions were adopted after the public meet: - Integrity of Manipur will be kept intact, - policy of divide and rule against communities in Manipur will not be allowed to continue, - alienation within different groups will be stopped - any neighbouring State will not be allowed to interfere and threaten the territorial integrity of the State.