The first round of talks between the Manipur government and the United Naga Council (UNC) took place at the Senapati district headquarters today, with the government saying it marked “fruitful and cordial” start of a series of talks on UNC’s demands.
Addressing media persons after the talks, government spokesman and MLA Th. Radheshyam said the delegation, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and Home Minister K. Govindas Singh, engaged in a discussion on issues troubling the state.
“We had a very fruitful and cordial discussion. It is for the first time that we will discuss issues in a series of discussion and find out solutions,” Radheshyam said.
Hailing today’s discussion as “icebreaker,” he said it was still too early to say anything about its outcome.
When questioned about the UNC demand for rollback of the 16 district reorganization and restoration of four districts dominated by Nagas, Radheshyam replied that the process was just beginning and the result would depend upon a series of discussions.
In response to the demand for extension of the SoO agreement and demands for its abrogation, he said that he was unaware of the reason for the extension of the SoO agreement and would have to look into it.
Speaking on the demand for the abrogation of the SoO agreement, he said that the matter lies under the policy and decision of the Government of India.
“We are a democratic country and are a part of India, so we have to follow the policy and decision of the Government of India,” he said.
Radheshyam also refrained from mentioning the time frame for addressing the four-point charter of demands put forward by the UNC, saying that the process had just begun and more discussions would be needed.
The delegation of the government reached Senapati at around 11 am. In addition to Dikho and Govindas, the delegation comprised many MLAs and other government officers.
