In a major political development in Manipur that could possibly have serious long-term repercussions for the state, all 10 Kuki MLAs, including eight from the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Friday sought the Centre to create a “separate administration” for the Kuki community as the state of Manipur “miserably failed” to protect them when ethnic violence broke out on 3 May.
The MLAs alleged that the unabated violence was perpetrated by the majority Meitei community and was “tacitly supported” by the Manipur state government against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi hill tribals which, they said, “has already partitioned the state and effecting a total separation” from the state of Manipur.
“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 live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur,” the ten MLAs said in a joint statement issued on Friday.
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 MLAs are Haokholet Kipgen, Ngursanglur Sanate, Letpao Haokip, LM Khaute, Letzamang Haokip, Paolienlal Haokip, Nemcha Kipgen and Vungjagin Valte of the BJP and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Chinlunthang of the Kuki People’s Alliance.
The violence in Manipur began on 3 May after thousands participated in a protest march organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand of the Meitei community to be included in the Scheduled Tribe category. The clashes have left at least 71 persons dead, over 200 injured and over 30,000 displaced.
The members of the non-tribal Meitei community, who account for 60% of the state’s population, are concentrated in the Imphal Valley which makes up for only 10% of the total geographical area of the state.
On Friday, the Kuki MLAs said that living amid the Meiteis after the violence is “as good as death” for their community.
“Our people can no longer exist under Manipur as the hatred against our tribal community 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 worships, homes and properties,” the MLAs said in their statement.
“As elected representatives of our people, we today represent the sentiments of our people and endorse their political aspiration of separation from the state of Manipur,” the MLAs declared. They also stated that they have decided to hold political consultations “with our people at the earliest regarding further steps to be taken by us as a people.”
The Manipur Legislative Assembly has 60 seats and the Kuki 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 whereas the other half are from the Naga community.
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