Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Imphal, Nov 17 (IANS) Two Kuki MLAs from Manipur on Monday said the community MLAs have not taken any decision on joining the new government in the state.
Two MLAs from the Kuki community – Haokholet Kipgen and Chinlunthang – said in a joint statement that popular government in Manipur was discussed at the Guwahati meeting.
However, no decision was taken by the Kuki-Zo MLAs on joining the new government.
Besides, some Kuki-Zo MLAs were not present at the Guwahati meeting, he said.
Both the MLAs said that focusing on the gravity of the prevailing situation and circumstances, there was an in-depth discussion on a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo community.
Therefore, people are appealed not to fall prey to such misleading rumours, the statement said.
It advised the media to stop publishing baseless and unverified news in future to maintain their credibility and reputation.
10 tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi community and almost all organizations of the community in Manipur have already urged the Center to create a Union Territory with a separate administration or legislature for their community in Manipur.
A separate statement issued by the Kuki National Organization (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF), militant organizations that signed a Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreement with the Center and the Manipur government on August 22, 2008, also said that no decision had been taken by the Kuki-Zo MLAs about joining a popular government.
KNO and UPF said, “Kuki-Zo MLAs and the collective Kuki-Zo leadership are committed to achieving the political demand of separate administration or union territory as their top priority.”
The UPF and KNO, a group of 23 underground organizations, signed the SOU with the government.
About 2,266 cadres of militant organizations are living in various designated camps in the hilly areas of Manipur.
More than 260 people were killed, 1,500 injured and more than 70,000 displaced in the ethnic violence that broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ held in the hill districts in protest of the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
N. President’s rule is in force in Manipur since February 13, four days after Biren Singh stepped down as Chief Minister on February 9.
The tenure of the 60-member Manipur Assembly, which has been suspended, is till 2027.
–IANS
SC/KHz