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Syed Zarir Hussain in Guwahati
An influential Naga group urged the Union government on Saturday to slice parts of Manipur and merge them with Nagaland to preserving their distinct culture and traditions.
"We want that all Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur be merged with Nagaland immediately as this is our aspiration, to live together as one people under one political roof," said Paul Leo, president of the United Naga Council, apex body of some 500,000 Nagas in Manipur.
"Pending a final political settlement, the Indian government should make an interim arrangement to merge the Naga-dominated areas in Manipur with Nagaland without delay," Leo told the Indo-Asian News Service.
The UNC has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee citing historical reasons for merging parts of Manipur's territory with the adjoining state.
The UNC wants the four hill districts of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul to be merged with Nagaland, besides 26 villages in the district of Churachandpur inhabited by the Zeliangrong tribe.
The Nagas claim that Manipur's majority Meitei community has "concocted history" to oppose the demand for unification of Naga-dominated areas.
"Our identity and history has to be defended at all costs and the Nagas in Manipur firmly resolve to uphold the aspirations for integration of all the Nagas under one administration," said Kho John, president of the All-Naga Students' Association of Manipur.
The demand for slicing parts of Manipur's territory has sparked an angry reaction with the majority Meiteis pledging to resist the move.
"At no cost shall we allow Manipur's territorial integrity to be disturbed. We shall shed blood to resist such a move to fragment Manipur," Ahantem Montu, leader of the powerful All-Manipur Students' Union, told IANS by telephone from the state capital Imphal.
In June, Manipur had witnessed violent demonstrations after the Union government decided to extend the jurisdiction of its ceasefire with the outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to cover the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur and other northeastern states that have sizeable Naga populations.
Indo-Asian News Service
The Ceasefire in Nagaland: The complete coverage Manipur Anti-ceasefire Agitation: The complete coverage
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