Naga Council and Ministry of Home Affairs Discussion on Border Concerns

On Wednesday, the United Naga Council (UNC), a major Naga body in Manipur, received a formal invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs to engage in talks with central government officials. This meeting, scheduled for August 26 in New Delhi, aims to address UNC's unease regarding the fence along the India-Myanmar border and the cancellation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), officials report.

This invitation follows a meeting four days prior between a UNC delegation and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal, where these critical issues were initially presented. After the discussion, a letter penned by A K Mishra, Advisor for the North East at the Ministry of Home Affairs, was sent to Ng Lorho, the president of UNC, inviting their participation.

There has been increasing opposition from Naga groups in Manipur against the border fence in Naga-majority areas and the termination of the FMR. Manipur, sharing a 398-km border with Myanmar, sees the FMR as a crucial link with their kin across borders. Earlier, on July 22, Naga bodies submitted a demand to the Centre urging immediate cessation of the fencing project, echoing wider regional dissent from local communities, particularly Nagas, Kukis, and Mizos.

(With inputs from agencies.)