Fight for Naga cause in hills

Key issue in Manipur

Rahul Gandhi at the Churachandpur rally. A file picture Rahul Gandhi’s promise of safeguarding Manipur’s territorial integrity has not deterred Outer constituency candidate Mani Charenamai from vowing to work “whole heartedly” for the unification of the community under one administrative unit. During his rally at Churachandpur on April 2, Rahul had declared that the Congress would not change the existing boundaries of Manipur. Charenamai, a Naga from Tamenglong, was elected from the Outer Manipur constituency as an Independent candidate in the last Lok Sabha elections with support from the United Naga Council, the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur. This time, he has been fielded by the People’s Democratic Alliance, a Naga political body. All the 10 Independent Naga legislators are backing Charenamai’s candidature. Charenamai kicked off his campaign at Ragiolong, a Naga pocket on the outskirts of Imphal city, and has so far concentrated on the Naga-dominated districts of Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel. Charenamai’s open campaign for Naga unification has drawn flak from various parties, which termed the move as an attempt to divide the state. “Mani Charenamai is trying to break up Manipur and every one who votes for him will be voting for the breaking up of Manipur. All should come together and defeat Mani’s design and supporters,” Okram Joy Singh, a senior Manipur Peoples Party MLA, said.  Charenamai is undaunted, though. “Your votes are to save the land of the Nagas and to build a unique land for the Nagas,” the candidate has been telling the voters.  “It is a mission to save, defend and preserve the Nagas’ land, culture, identity and language,” he says.  A unique land of Nagas means bringing four Naga-dominated districts of Manipur — Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati and Nagaland under one administrative unit. However, not all Naga voters have been won over by Charenamai’s promise of an integrated land. Dominic Loli Adanee, a former Air India executive who is contesting on a BJP ticket and drawing huge crowds, has been campaigning on emotional integration of all the people living in the state and a change for the better. Adanee enjoys support despite the fact that the BJP has a clear stand on the territorial integrity of Manipur. It promises to safeguard the state’s boundary.  The onus is now on the 9.08 lakh electorate to take a final call.