Imphal: A fresh round of tripartite discussions on the creation of seven new districts in Manipur is set to take place on Thursday in Senapati district, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
The new districts were established in 2016 by the Congress-led government under O Ibobi Singh, despite strong opposition from the United Naga Council (UNC), the leading body representing the Naga tribes in Manipur.
According to the official, the meeting will bring together representatives from the central government, the state government, and the United Naga Council.
“The next round of talks will be held tomorrow in Senapati,” the official stated.
The UNC has long opposed the formation of these districts, arguing that they encroach on the ancestral lands of the Naga people.
The Congress government, however, defended the move at the time, saying it was designed to improve administrative efficiency in the state.
The most recent tripartite talks, held in November of the previous year, failed to reach any meaningful agreement.
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A joint statement issued after the meeting noted that the Manipur government representatives were unable to present a concrete proposal due to certain difficulties.
However, the UNC expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of a solid proposal, urging that one be submitted in future discussions.
The creation of these seven new districts was done by splitting the nine existing districts at the time, raising concerns about the impact on local communities and their land rights.
The outcome of Thursday’s meeting could have significant implications for the ongoing debate surrounding the administrative reorganisation in the region.
