‘State failed to protect us’: 10 Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand separate administration
All 10 MLAs from Kuki communities in Manipur — including two ministers in the Biren Singh government — Friday raised the demand for a separate administration, stating that the state of Manipur “miserably failed to protect” its Chin-Kuki-Zomi tribals.
This comes after violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state which broke out on May 3, in which more than 60 deaths have been reported. In a statement, the 10 MLAs said that living amidst the Meiteis after these incidents “is as good as death for our people”.
Among the 10 MLAs who have signed the statement raising the demand is BJP MLA Vunzagin Valte, who was gravely injured after an attack on his vehicle in Imphal on May 4, following which he had to be airlifted to Delhi for treatment.
The signatories also include ministers from the BJP, Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen. The remaining signatories are Haokholet Kipgen, LM Khaute, Ngursanglur Sanate, Letzamang Haokip and Paolienlal Haokip from the BJP; and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Chinlunthang Haokip from the Kuki People’s Alliance, which extended its support to the BJP for the formation of the government in the state after last year’s elections.
Since the Manipur Legislative Assembly has 60 seats, these MLAs make up one-sixth of the strength of the house. Since 20 seats in the house are from the state’s hill areas, which make up around 90% of the state’s geographical area, they also make up half the tribal MLAs in the house.
In their statement, they wrote, “Our people can no longer exist under Manipur as the hatred against our tribal communities reached such a height that MLAs, ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, laymen, women and even children were not spared. Not to mention the destruction of places of worship, homes and properties. To live amidst the Meiteis again is as good as a death for our people.”
Claiming that they are representing the sentiments of their people and endorsing their political aspiration of “separation from the state of Manipur”, they wrote: “As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek of the Union of India, a separate administration under the constitution of India and to live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur.”
Asked about the nature of separate administration they were demanding, minister Leitpao Haokip said “it is up to the Union of India” whether this would be a separate state or a Union Territory.
Another one of the 10 MLAs said the next step that they are planning is a meeting in Mizoram on May 16 with communities leaders and civil society organisation leaders from their constituencies to draw them into the process of mobilising this demand.
