Imphal, June 19 : The United Committee, Manipur and the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation today accused New Delhi of driving wedges in communities of the Northeast.
They also blamed Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio for supporting NSCN (I-M)’s demand for the division of Manipur.
The committee opposed participation by the Manipur government in the talks over the United Naga Council’s (UNC) demand for an alternative administrative arrangement for Nagas living in Manipur.
The two organisations held separate functions in Imphal city today to pay tribute to 18 persons killed in the firing by security personnel to control rampaging protesters who burnt government buildings on June 18, 2001. They were protesting against extension of the NSCN (I-M) ceasefire.
The uprising forced New Delhi to roll back the declaration of extension without any territorial limit.
As speaker after speaker assailed New Delhi for its “divide-and-rule” policy during the programmes here, Naga organisations from four Naga-dominated districts despa-tched identical memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to fulfil the demand for alternative arrangement.
Thousands, including Lok Sabha MP Th. Meinya Singh, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s wife and MLA Landhoni Devi, paid floral tributes at the memorial site at Kekrupat in Imphal city.
“The Manipur government should not take part in the meeting, the agenda of which is dividing Manipur. The state government should take a clear stand on the UNC demand,” said committee president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar.
Organisation president K. T. Rahman said opening of the Manipur unit of Naga People’s Front in Senapati recently by Rio and the attempt by NSCN (I-M) leader Th. Muivah to enter Manipur were parts of a design to break up Manipur.