Senapati, Aug. 1: Ignoring appeals by political parties, Nagas of Manipur today trooped out of their homes in four district headquarters in a show of support for the proposal to integrate contiguous Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast.

The rallies touched a raw nerve in a state that had witnessed a massive uprising in June 2001 over Delhi’s decision to extend its ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) beyond Nagaland.

Apprehending a similar backlash by the Meitei community, the Okram Ibobi Singh government took no chances with security. The leaders who addressed the rallies probably shared that concern, going by their appeals to the Meitei population to understand and respect the Nagas’ aspirations.

The demand for integration of the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam is one of the primary demands of the NSCN (I-M).

In a decision that caused ripples in the administration, the United Naga Council of Manipur last week decided to convene rallies to mobilise support for the insurgent outfit’s demand. An all-party meeting on Wednesday made an impassioned appeal not to organise any rally that could disturb peace, but the Naga council stuck to its decision.

Processions began simultaneously in Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel districts at 10 am. The 10,000-strong crowd here carried placards bearing slogans like “Sincerity please, GoI (government of India)” and “Nagas are one by blood and have the right to be integrated”. Hundreds of children joined the procession, which stretched upto 2 km on the National Highway 39.

“We support the collective leadership (of the NSCN),” the Naga leaders exhorted, and the crowd responded with shouts of “We support, we support”.

The Senapati gathering was organised by Naga People’s Organisation, while the Tangkhul Naga Long hosted the one in Ukhrul. Senapati is home to five Naga tribes: Poumai, Thangal, Mao, Zeliangrong and Maram.

One of the speakers at the Senapati rally said integration of Naga-inhabited areas was the first step towards sovereignty. Recalling a speech by Mahatma Gandhi, the vice-president of the UNC, Puni Modoli, said: “Mahatma Gandhi had said, ‘If you (Nagas) don’t want to join India, no one will force you’.”

The thorny subject of sovereignty was, however, conspicuous by its absence in the other speeches and slogans.

Former UNC president Paul Leo said the Meiteis should do a rethink on their policy. “You cannot buy peaceful coexistence through violence and diktats,” he said, adding that the UNC and like-minded organisations might boycott the Naga legislators of Manipur if they did not raise the demand for integration in the Assembly.

Eight MLAs of the ruling coalition and three from the Opposition represent the Nagas.