Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC), N0rtheast’s apex Naga body, has urged all communities to respect each other’s heritage, history, and territorial rights to foster peaceful coexistence.
In a statement, the UNC vowed to resist any attempt to dispossess the Naga people from their ancestral homeland.
The UNC’s response follows a “disrespectful statement” from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a prominent Kuki-Zo community body in Manipur, towards the Liangmai Naga people during their recent festivities.
CoTU had warned Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh against visiting Kuki-Zo areas en route to a post-harvest festival of the Liangmai Naga community in Senapati district, claiming it could exacerbate tensions.
The Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), a powerful organization representing the Liangmai Naga community, expressed deep concern over CoTU‘s alleged threats.
The LNC highlighted the marginalization of the Liangmai and Naga populations in their ancestral lands due to the alleged influx of “illegal immigrants and their rapid village expansion in Kangpokpi district.
They view the Chief Minister’s attendance as a legitimate recognition of the Liangmai community’s heritage and a gesture of support for cultural unity.
The LNC emphasized that the festival aims to promote dialogue, mutual respect, and stronger ties among all communities in the troubled state.