Kuki tribals reiterate separate state demand accusing Meitei for ethnic violence in Manipur

way2barak, June 8 : The Kuki tribals in Manipur once again reiterated their demand to create a separate administrations equivalent to a separate state for them even though the Central and state governments on a number of occasions rejected the division of the northeastern state.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex body of the Kuki tribals, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the ongoing violence in Manipur was a pre-planned ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki community by the majority Meiteis, has become clearer day by day.

KIM General Secretary Khaikhoradh Gangte in his letter to Shah alleged that during a recent interview to the media, the Meitei Leepun chief Pramot Singh made a damning revelation that he and his organisation were in the know about genocide being planned against the Kuki people.

“How the hate campaign against the Kuki people transformed into ethnic cleansing under a very communal government was also very clear through the contents of the interview given by Meitel Leepun chief Pramot Singh,” Gangte said and demanded to declare the Meitei Leepun as outlawed organisation.

The KIM letter said that in the media interview, filled with hatred and malice against the Kuki people, Pramot Singh categorically issued a stern warning to the Kuki people that the Meiteis are still discussing among themselves on how to go about annihilating the Kuki people.

Demanding arrest of Meitei Leepun chief Pramot Singh, the KIM said : “The enemy to them is the Kuki community and living together with a group of people who want to annihilate us is impossible.

Hence, the urgent need for total separation from Manipur where the Kuki community can live peacefully as dignified Indian citizens, living in their ancestral lands under the constitution of India.”

A week after the ethnic violence started in Manipur, 10 MLAs belonging to Kuki tribals (including seven ruling BJP members) demanded a separate administration equivalent to a separate state for the tribals in Manipur.

After the May 3 and the subsequent ethnic violence, all the 10 MLAs belonging to the Kuki community have accused the N. Biren Singh government of “failing miserably” to protect the community.

Therefore, they have resolved to pursue a “separate administration under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with Manipur”.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh and after his four day Manipur visit Union Home Minister categorically rejected the separate state demand for the tribals.

The tribals constitute around 37 to 40 per cent of the total 2.72 million population (2011 census) of Manipur.