UNC suspends proposed bandh

NNN/TNIE
SPT/GWT, Oct 2: The United Naga Council (UNC) has announced this evening that its proposed 48-hour total bandh in Naga areas stand which was slated to begin from the midnight of October 3 stands suspended.
"On receipt of an invitation for tripartite talks on the issue of district roll back amongst the Government of India, the Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council (UNC) on October 11, 2024, in New Delhi, and at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs representative and Security Advisor, North East, the proposed 48 hours total bandh in Naga areas effective from the midnight of October 3, 2024, is temporarily suspended", the UNC said in a statement.
It also appealed to all its constituent units, subordinate bodies, various Naga frontal organisations and the Naga populace to remain steadfast and be prepared for any course of action until the demand to roll back the newly created districts is met.
Earlier, the Manipur Government appealed to the UNC not to go ahead with the proposed agitation.
In a letter to the UNC, the Manipur Government said the Centre had agreed to resume the tripartite talks with the UNC and nominated AK Mishra, Advisor (North East) to represent the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The date, time and place for the talks will be intimated at the earliest. Therefore, I am to request you to withdraw the proposed agitations and extend cooperation to the steps initiated by the Central and State Governments to avoid any kind of unwanted event,” Manipur Government Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) N Ashok Kumar wrote in the letter to the UNC.
In a statement on Monday, the UNC stated that it had issued an ultimatum earlier demanding that the decision to create the seven districts by the then Congress Government be rolled back 'in the spirit of' four MoUs signed between Manipur Government and the Nagas.
The UNC recalled that during the last round of tripartite talks held on March 9, 2019, an assurance was given that the State Government would place a concrete proposal in the next round of talks, which was to have been held by the last week of July that year.
The seven new districts are Jiribam, Kamjong, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Noney, Pherzawl and Kangpokpi.