United Naga Council (UNC) has called off its proposed 96-hour total bandh in Naga areas of Manipur from August 20 midnight after Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) fixed the date for a tripartite meeting.

In a statement, UNC publicity wing said that the decision to call off the bandh was taken at an emergency meeting to consider the communication received MHA on August 20 afternoon.

MHA informed UNC that the next round of tripartite talk of the centre, the government of Manipur and UNC would be held at Delhi on August 29 & 30 or 31 as per the convenience of UNC.

UNC said its team would be participating in the 4th round of tripartite talk at Delhi which was being proposed on August 31. 

The UNC bandh was called in protest against the “lack of sincerity and political will” by the centre and Manipur government to carry forward the dialogue on the demand for an alternative arrangement and pending settlement of “Indo-Naga issue”. UNC has also asked all churches and Naga public to pray for the success of the talk on Aug 31.

UNC further acknowledged the elaborate preparations made by organizations to be put in place for the proposed bandh.