Imphal, October 25: Sharply reacting to the purported statement of Isak Chisi Swu and Th Muivah of the NSCN (IM) that Meiteis and Nagas will become one when freedom is won, the proscribed UNLF today said that the statement issued by the two leaders of the IM group is nothing but an attempt to misguide the different communities of Manipur.

In a statement, UNLF made it clear that their stand is against the policies of the NSCN (IM) and not against the Naga people and reiterated that UNLF has always and will always respect the Naga people.

On the allegations raised against the UNLF by Muivah and Swu, the statement said that �bad politics� as described by the two were and are being pursued by the IM group and not by the UNLF.

It was the IM group which was responsible for the Kuki-Naga clash that led to the death of hundreds and the Paite-Kuki clash.

Not satisfied with this the IM group is trying its best to sow the seeds of suspicion and hatred between the Meiteis and the Nagas, said the statement.

It is the agenda of the NSCN (IM) to ignite a clash between the Nagas and the Meiteis, it added.

UNLF has never ever tried to play one community against the other and will never do so, said the statement.

To the statement that Meiteis and Nagas will become once freedom is attained, UNLF countered with �How about the other communities�.

Muivah and Swu may shout that the Meiteis and Nagas will become one but their real agenda is to ignite a clash between the two communities, charged UNLF and added that the recent 52 days economic blockade imposed at the instigation of the IM group is a telling example.

The people of Manipur however did not fall prey to the machinations of the IM group, observed the statement and added that the real agenda and aspirations of the UNLF is for all communities to co-exist peacefully with each community maintaining its distinct identity and culture.

On the other hand the IM group has been supping with the Assam Rifles and even joining hands with the common enemy in targeting the UNLF, charged the statement.

The UNLF will never adopt such a policy, claimed the statement.

Making its stand clear, UNLF said that it is against the IM group, which is an organisation but is not against the Naga people at all.

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