In order to make its demand heard,the UNC resorted to various agitations including blockades against Manipur.The Centre eventually agreed to hold tripartite talks on the issue which was a big morale booster.The then Union Home Minister came to Manipur in May 2011 to assess the situation.The Manipur cabinet,under the prevailing circumstances,decided to hold talks with the UNC.The arch rival,the United Committee Manipur of which the well known objective is to protect the generations old boundary of Manipur questioned the Manipur Government for its climb-down.It also wanted to know the agenda of the talks since the UNC clamoured for the vivisection of Manipur.On the other hand,it was clear that the UNC did not welcome the Chief Minister since he kept on harping on the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Impatient with the lukewarm response,the UNC had organised a convention of the Nagas in Senapati on the 1st of July 2010.It took the epoch decision to demand an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur.On September 14th,2010 the UNC sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding the alternative arrangement.

On August 7th,2010 three ministers,Biren Nongthambam,D.D.Thaisii and T.N.Haokip went to Senapati to hold talks with the UNC representatives.What the UNC had in mind

During his Independence Day speech,Ibobi ridiculed the Kuki and the Naga architects of a new state and‘alternative arrangements’respectively.

was ranking Central Government representatives.Since they knew that the Ministers would confine themselves to the unacceptable parameters of territorial integrity,they declined to come to the negotiating table.The red faced ministers had to return empty handed.T.N.Haoip was mistaken when he thought that the UNC had buried the hatchet.He had gone to Senapati on November 27th,2010 to dedicate November 27th,2010 to dedicate a drinking water facility to the people.However not a single person attended the inauguration ceremony.

The first round of tripartite talks was held on December 3rd,2010. V.K.Bansal and Shambu Singh represented the central government.The Chief Secretary and some officials had represented the Manipur government.

Understandably there was no minister from the state.The former MP Mani Charanamei who is a strong advocate of the alternative arrangement was also present. There were four more rounds of talks.However there was no tangible outcome.Furthermore,the central and the state governments had delayed the next round of talks on flimsy pretexts.The 5th round of formal‘tripartite talks’involving the United Naga Council(UNC),Manipur and Central Governments was held at Senapati district headquarters in February 2013.S Jaiyaraman, Internal Security Special Secretary and Sambhu,Joint Secretary(NE)of Union Home Ministry represented the Government of India while Manipur Government was represented by Chief Secretary DS Poonia,Additional Chief Secretary Ameising Luikham,Prinicipal Secretary (Home)DR J Suresh Babu.

UNC was represented by its president L Adani,vice president TS Warngam,general secretary Gaidon Kamei,former UNC chief KS Paul Leo,Asinpao Gangmei and four other members in the talks.However,the theme of the talksi.e.the‘Alternative Arrangement’was not discussed.The Naga leaders said they had clearly submitted the line of their aspiration to the government of India but the day’s talk had not gone to that extent.The Naga leaders have said if this attitude of the government is displayed in the next round of talks,they will go back to the people,hinting that serious agitations will be initiated.

There have been demands for holding the sixth round of talks.When there was no response from the centre,the UNC served an ultimatum.It launched a 48 hour general strike from August 10th at midnight.

So far the centre has been impervious to it.In this backdrop the vitriolic and sarcastic statement of the Manipur chief minister made on August 15th is fraught with significance.The UNC is vowing to spearhead more agitations in furtherance of its demand.

Not to be left out,the Kuki Statehood Demand Committee(KSDC)has been flexing its muscles.Soon after the end of the UNC sponsored general strike,the KSDC had imposed its own general strike.Many sections were not amused since the two general strikes had shown scant respect to the Patriots’Day the government and the people observe every year on August 13th.Some newspapers ran editorial questioning the intention of the Naga and the Kuki organizations.

The KSDC and some organizations have been demanding the carving out of a new state out of Manipur.But being signatories to the suspension of operations they cannot do anything against the territorial integrity of Manipur with a written chronicle of more than 2000 years.The Naga and the Kuki activists had circulated maps purporting to show their areas.If these demands are conceded to,just a patch of land will be left for Manipur.

Okram Ibobi has made the position of the government clear.But people have not heard the last word since the UNC and the KSDC are not distracted by the statement of the chief minister.

Kavita Laithangbam