Has Biren’s Bonhomie with the Nagas of Manipur Coming to an End?
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex social organisation of the Nagas of Manipur, in its presidential council meeting held on 9 August 2024 at Maram, Senapati district, resolved to continue its demand to roll-back the seven new districts created in December 2016 by the then Congress government. It may be noted that the UNC had launched a series of agitation including a four-month-long economic blockade along the two National Highways (Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal-Jiri road) in protest against the bifurcation of the then seven existing districts out of nine to create seven new districts. The newly created districts include Jiribam (from Imphal East), Kakching (from Thoubal), Kangpokpi (from Senapati), Kamjong (from Ukhrul) Noney (from Tamenglong), Pherzawl (from Churachandpur), and Tengnoupal (from Chandel). Imphal West and Bishnupur were the only two districts which were not bifurcated. The main argument of the UNC was that the Nagas were not consulted while creating these new dis