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Tripartite talks held on Manipur dist creation issue

By CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL, Sept 1 - Another round tripartite talks involving Centre, Manipur Government and United Naga Council (UNC) was held at Senapati, 60 km from here, on Saturday to resolve the issue of creation of new districts in the State.

UNC president Gaidon Kamei and Secretary S Milan led a team of 11 members to the talks. Three Manipur Ministers � V Hangkhalian, Losii Dikho and Th Radheshyam, besides two senior State Government officials represented the State Government.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (in-charge of North East), Satyendra Garg, who represented the Government of India, attended the talks which were aimed at finding an amicable solution to the issue arising out of creation of seven new districts in the State by the previous Congress Government in December 2016. The newly formed districts are Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Kamjong, Kakching, Noney, Pherzawl and Tengnoupal.

Earlier, the State had only nine districts � Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Senapati, Tengnoupal, Thoubal and Ukhrul.

The UNC had protested the creation of the new districts, particularly Kangpokpi and Jiribam. They had even imposed economic blockade on all National Highways which pass through Manipur for more than 100 days. However, the agitation was withdrawn following an understanding with the newly-formed BJP-led coalition government which came to power in March 2017.

In the talks today, the State Government agreed that it could not come with a concrete proposal because of urgent issues before the government. The first round of talks was held on March 19, 2017.

�The State Government requested for some more time to come out with a concrete proposal,� said a joint statement. �The government understands the sentiments of UNC and committs that it would come out with definite concrete plans in the next meeting which will be scheduled in the first week of December 2018�, it added.

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