Kuki MLAs, Civil society adopt resolution in support of Separate Administration
New Delhi/Aizawl
Burying the old hatchet, Kukis are now keen to share platform with Nagas vis-a-vis pushing their demand for a Separate Administration in Manipur.
Ten Kuki legislators from Manipur including a few belonging to the BJP and a newly created forum of civil society leaders the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in a five-hour long meeting at Aizawl on Wednesday unanimously decided to press for a Separate Administration for Zo tribals in Manipur.
The decision comes in the wake of the violent clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Chin-Zomi-Mizo-Hmar communities since May 3 which left a large number of people dead and injured.
Thousands have been displaced and at present there are 6000 'internally displaced' people from Manipur residing in various towns and villages in Mizoram.
Kukis and other smaller tribes share ethnic bond with Mizos and a section of disgruntled people are already talking about the need to press for Greater Mizoram. Participants in today's meeting held in the premises of Aizawl Club maintained that hundreds of homes and entire villages have been torched.
"The meeting was important and we had detailed discussions. The meeting also agreed to share a
common platform with the Nagas, who are also inhabitants of the hills of Manipur and also having 9 legislators
in the 60-member Manipur legislature now," a source told 'Nagaland Page'.
Things have been discussed but a 'final decision' on the future roadmap will be worked out
after consultation with various stakeholders including Nagas in Manipur, the source clarified.
“The final decision on what kind of Separate Administration from the Manipur state would be demanded would be made after sharing a common platform with the Naga community leaders,” the source said.
The participants including women leaders felt it strongly that there is a general sense of 'us and they' syndrome in Manipur today and the majority Meitei community "has gone against the ‘Zo’ communities".
Ten MLAs belonging to the ‘Zo’ hill tribal community had on Friday first made the demand for a Separate Administration "under the Constitution of India".
The ITLF leaders who attended May 17 meeting are representing civil societies of Manipur hill state including Kuki Inpi, Hmar Inpui, Paite Tribe Council and Mizo People’s Convention in Manipur.
However, as posters and banners surfaced on Sunday in favour of Separate Administration, reportedly the government of India did not appreciate raising such demands at this juncture.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who met Manipur CM N Biren Singh and others including community
leaders from both sides in Delhi on Sunday and Monday have called for immediate restoration of peace and tranquility.
ends
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