Kohima: The media cell of the Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang’s Office has clarified that the Chief Minister, during his visit to the Senapati district of Manipur, had “spoken about the need for the Nagas of Manipur to be united to protect their birth-right over their land, customs, culture and tradition.”
Reacting to the statements made by Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi against Nagaland Chief Minister Zeliang during his visit to Senapati district, the CMO media cell said, Zeliang at no point had mentioned about territorial integration or disintegration, which Ibobi seems to have assumed.
However, the CMO media cell avoided any reaction to Manipur BJP spokesperson O. Joy’s statement accusing Zeliang of “instigating disintegration not only in Manipur but also unity of India.” O. Joy had also demanded Manipur Government to take up legal action against Zeliang.
The CMO said Zeliang had only expressed his opinion that the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement seemed to be a Preamble, and not the final agreement, which was indicative of the intention of both the negotiating parties to settle the issue amicably without use of force or violence.
Zeliang had also specifically stated that he believed that the agreement would be finalised after having wide-ranging consultations with the stake-holders.
It alleged that “Ibobi had already segregated the communities of Manipur, injected the politically-major valley voters with venom, and on the eve of every election, unfailingly raised the issue of integrity of his State just to gain political mileage.”
Accusing Ibobi that he had already emotionally disintegrated the state into pieces, the CMO said Ibobi had once again shown how he retained power all these years. It said Ibobi has the habit of making wild speculations against the tribals of Manipur, especially Nagas, to ensure that the people of the Valley, comprising various communities and ethnic groups, are kept on tenterhooks before the elections and vote for him. (UNI)
