New Delhi: The Kuki-Zo Council has demanded a return to President’s Rule in Manipur after facing “political exclusion” by the current state government and allegedly continuous attacks by the Nagas.
In a statement, the Kuki-Zo Council wrote that under the current dispensation, the community feels both “politically excluded” and “unsafe” and therefore demands the return of the President’s Rule.
“We had hoped that the change of government in Manipur would bring security and normalcy. Instead, attacks and killings continue. The present government has failed to provide the Kuki-Zo with the security and confidence necessary for peaceful coexistence. The Kuki-Zo Council therefore calls for the reimposition of President’s Rule in Manipur,” they said.
The statement further stated that the community felt “safer under President’s Rule than under the present state government”.
“If the state government cannot protect its citizens, the Centre must act,” they said.
The Kuki-Zo added that after what they have endured since May 2023 at the hands of the Meiteis, coupled with the renewed ethnic violence involving the Naga of Manipur, it is becoming increasingly clear that they cannot expect justice, security or dignity within the present political arrangement in Manipur.
“The Kuki-Zo have therefore been compelled to seek a political arrangement that guarantees our security, dignity, land and identity,” they said.
The statement comes after the Government of India deferred the Census exercise in Manipur after a high level meeting which took into consideration “14 civil society organisations representing the Meitei and Naga communities”.
The KZC condemned the Central government’s decision to defer the Census exercise in Manipur based on demands raised by selected civil society organisations, while completely ignoring the voice and concerns of the Kuki-Zo people.
“According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The meeting considered the demand for ‘No Census Before NRC’ raised by 14 civil society organisations representing the Meitei and Naga communities,” they said.
Highlighting that “not a single Kuki-Zo organisation was part of this demand”, they said that the decision was painted as one that took cognisance of the “feelings and aspirations of the people of Manipur,” the KZC said.
“This political exclusion of the Kuki-Zo, coupled with the presence of N. Biren Singh in the meeting, who is responsible for the ethnic violence against our people raises serious questions about the impartiality of the deliberation,” they said.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Kuki-Zo Council submits memo to MHA, IB seeking urgent intervention, political solution for Manipur
The Kuki-Zo community has historically been residing in Myanmar. However, due to lack of economic opportunitites coupled by the lawlessness due to several armed militant groups operating in that region, many of them migrated to India illegally. They were assisted by the Mizo tribes – however, the Mizos were really clever and did not allow them to settle down in Mizoram. Manipur had huge hilly and forest tracts – uninhabited. The Kuki-ZO community landed there with help from various church organisations.
The deal was simple – you convert to Christianity and the church helps you to resettle in remote forested tracts of Manipur.
A win-win scenario for every party involved.
Unfortunately, the Manipuris lost out in this bargain of convenience.