Songpi: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki community, on Saturday strongly criticized the ongoing session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, alleging that the House has completely ignored the humanitarian crisis faced by the Kuki people in the state.
In a detailed statement issued on Saturday, KIM said the proceedings of the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which started on September 2, have reinforced its stand that physical, administrative and political separation of the Kuki people from the Manipur valley administration has become total and cannot be reversed.
According to KIM, instead of discussing peace-building, rehabilitation and security of displaced families, the Assembly chose to focus on what it called majoritarian issues, including the exercise of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The organization claimed that serious concerns related to human rights violations and safety of Kuki villages were not taken up in the House.
The Kuki body also raised the killing of three Kuki Christian church leaders near Saheibung on May 13. KIM said the pastors were returning from a peace and reconciliation meeting in Churachandpur when they were ambushed and killed. The organization alleged that no transparent investigation has been carried out till now and no one has been held accountable.
KIM further alleged that supply routes to Kuki inhabited hill areas have remained blocked for several months, leading to shortage of essential items, medicines and food grains. It said the hardship faced by common people has not been acknowledged by the state government.
In its statement, KIM observed that the Assembly’s alleged refusal to acknowledge such incidents and its continued anti-Kuki narrative has proved that the present government in Imphal has lost moral authority to govern the Kuki people. It alleged that there is a pattern of institutional bias and neglect.
Citing Article 21 of the Constitution of India which guarantees right to life and personal liberty, KIM said the life and dignity of Kuki people cannot be secured under the current administrative arrangement centered in Imphal. The body said only a separate administrative arrangement can ensure equal protection.
Reiterating its long-standing demand, KIM said the Kuki people need a Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with Legislature. It described the demand not as a political choice but as a necessity for survival and future security.
KIM also expressed disappointment over participation of Kuki legislators in the Assembly session, stating that it had earlier asked all Kuki MLAs to stay away from the session to avoid giving an impression that normalcy has returned. The organization appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to directly intervene, protect Kuki inhabited areas and start political talks for creation of Union Territory.
The organization concluded that Kuki people are equal citizens of India and deserve to live with dignity and equal rights, and warned that continued delay in political solution will only worsen the crisis in Manipur.
