Imphal. Big news has come out from the political circle of Manipur. NDA ally Kuki People’s Alliance has withdrawn support to the N Biren Singh government in Manipur.
It may be mentioned that the Kuki People’s Alliance has two MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The Kuki People’s Alliance has taken this decision at a time when the Biren Singh-led government has come under criticism for its inability to control the violence. More than 160 people have died in this violence.
The Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Sunday announced withdrawal of support to the N Biren Singh government in Manipur. In a letter to Governor Anusuya Uikey, KPA chief Tongmang Haokip informed the party’s (KPA’s) decision to break ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Manipur. In the last three months, more than 160 people have died in caste violence in the state.
Haokip said in the letter, “After careful consideration of the current situation, there is no point in continuing to support the Manipur government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh.” Therefore, the KPA withdraws its support to the Manipur government.” Two KPA MLAs in the state’s 60-member assembly — Saikul to K.H. Chinlungthang–Hain from Hongxing and Singhat. The BJP has 32 members in the assembly, while it has the support of five NPF MLAs and three independents. The opposition MLAs have seven from the NPP, five from the Congress and six from the Janata Dal (United).
COCOMI, the apex Meitei organization leading the demand for an early Assembly session to “unanimously” reject the demand for a separate administrative unit for the Kuki community, claimed that if the “tribal MLA want to attend the session” he will ensure their safety. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA LM Khaute from Churachandpur, one of the districts most affected by caste violence, said, “It will not be possible for me to participate in the upcoming session in view of the current law and order situation in Manipur and the continuing violence.” He said that with no solution to the Kuki community’s demands for violence and separate administration, “it will not be possible for all Kuki-Zomi-Hamar legislators to attend the session.” Manipur’s 60-member assembly There are 10 MLAs from the Kuki-Zomi community, including seven from the BJP, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance and one independent.
Tongmang Haokip, president of the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), said, “It will not be safe for legislators to come to Imphal…Wungjagin Valte, the BJP MLA representing Thanlon, was badly assaulted there, he is still undergoing treatment.” He told, “If the state government and the central government give guarantees and take adequate steps for the safety of the legislators, then this concern can be dealt with.” There is no possibility of any meaningful discussion on the ethnic conflict going on for three months. More than 160 people have lost their lives in this violence. Kuki organizations including Kuki Impi Manipur (KIM), Kuki Students Organization (KSO), Kuki Chiefs Association (KSAM) and Kuki Women’s Union (KWU) have asked legislators to avoid going to Imphal to attend the assembly session. The Naga Hoho, a powerful body of the Naga tribe, has also asked 10 Naga legislators in Manipur to skip the assembly session, claiming that the Manipur government has been working against holding peace talks with the Naga groups.
Violence broke out in May between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities following demonstrations over a court decision. The court’s decision was in favor of the majority Meiteis living in the Imphal Valley, who are demanding Scheduled Tribe status. Kuki-Zomi and Naga tribals currently have the status of Scheduled Tribes. Ten MLAs from the Kuki community have sent a petition to the central government, requesting the creation of a “separate administrative region” for the Kuki areas. Kuki leader and BJP MLA Paolinlal Haokip has gone a step further and said that the solution to the ethnic conflict in the state would be possible only by creating three separate union territories. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has been alleging that many Kukis are illegal immigrants from northwestern Myanmar and that many Kukis cultivate opium in farms located in rural mountainous areas. Its spokesperson Khuraijum Athuba said, “If they (Kuki legislators) really want to come, we will ensure their security.” However, he stuck to his stand that the assembly should take a unanimous decision in favor of Manipur’s integrity.