Senapati August 20: The Government of India has invited the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in Manipur, for a meeting in New Delhi on August 26 to deliberate on the contentious issues of border fencing and the suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar frontier.
The invitation, sent by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (North East) to the Ministry of Home Affairs, formally requested the UNC’s participation in the dialogue. Key ministries including Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Defence are expected to attend the meeting.
While the UNC had earlier urged that talks be held in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, the Centre cited logistical constraints during the ongoing monsoon session. A delegation from the Council will now travel to Delhi to press its concerns, maintaining that fencing and the removal of FMR would endanger the traditional cross-border ties of Naga communities.
The UNC has vowed to continue its agitation until the interests of the Naga people are safeguarded. On August 16, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla met UNC leaders and assured them that the matter had been flagged to the Union Home Ministry, appealing for peace during the dialogue process.
Earlier, on August 11, the UNC convened an emergency presidential council meeting with tribal hoho leaders after the expiry of its 20-day ultimatum to the government. The meeting resolved to escalate agitation measures if demands were not addressed, keeping the border issue at the centre of its ongoing campaign.
