Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has yet again stoked a raw nerve and it could lead to a bigger row.
The BJP-led government in the state may consider setting up a committee to discuss the Scheduled Tribes status for Kukis in Manipur state. This was in response to queries on a representation made to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs by the Meitei leader of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), Maheshwar Thounaojam, seeking exclusion of Kukis from the state’s ST list.
The plea demanded the same on the grounds that “they (Kukis and Zo people) are not original inhabitants of Manipur”.
The representation has been forwarded by the Union Ministry to the state government, stating that the state's recommendation was a prerequisite to process any such proposal.
“Any further attempts by Biren Singh to use the State machinery to target the Kuki-Zo community will only escalate the conflict, which will ultimately be detrimental to him and the state,” a leading Kuki-Zo organisation has stated.
Since May 2023 Manipur witnessed unprecedented fatal ethnic violence between Kukis and Meiteis that was apparently triggered with the proposal to include the Hindu-majority Meitei indigenous community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Of course, the Chief Minister has also blamed natives of Myanmar but sharing ethnic bonds with Mizos and Kukis for precipitating the crisis.
The indiscriminate killings and rape and murder of Kuki women also led to a No Confidence motion against the Modi government in the centre during Monsoon session of Parliament in August. Of course, the number game was always in favour of the BJP-led NDA. During the debate in his marathon response, Home Minister Amit Shah had categorically ruled out replacement of Chief Minister Biren Singh saying the latter has been "cooperating" with the centre on various measures taken after the violence.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a Kuki-Zomi organisation based in Churachandpur, has lashed out at the CM for “opening a new front”.
"The communal Biren Singh administration has now opened a new front by pushing for the removal of the Kuki-Zo community from India’s ST list,” read a statement issued by the ITLF.
It further said, “It is no secret that the state government in Manipur, controlled by the majority Meitei community, overtly and covertly supports the Meiteis in the current ethnic conflict".
The influential Kuki Inpi – the apex body of Kuki tribes in Manipur – said attempts to “alter the ST status of the community” should be immediately ceased.
“Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills vehemently condemns any attempt to erase the Kuki community from Scheduled Tribe status, as it blatantly violates the principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution," it said adding, such actions not only undermine the Constitutional safeguards provided to tribal communities but also "perpetuate injustice and discrimination".
The Chief Minister has stated that Kukis in Manipur were included in the ST list...."But how it was included has to be reexamined. So before giving any comment (to the communique from the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry) we have to form a committee consisting of all tribes, then only will we be able to send a complete proposal for deletion or inclusion…
"Anything might be… but after the committee is formed."
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