Things getting murkier if not dirtier !!
The Manipur government headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh has accused the MNF of supporting a broader agenda to create a Kuki-Chin nation spanning parts of Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh through illegal immigration, land grabs, and displacement of indigenous populations.
It reiterated its commitment to preserving the integrity of Northeast India against such efforts.
The state Govt statement highlighted an abnormal 122% increase in villages in certain Kuki-dominated hill districts of Manipur between 1969 and the present, contrasting it with a mere 9% increase in Naga-dominated districts.
It questioned whether the MNF had considered the implications of this sharp rise, particularly in forest areas, which it linked to illegal immigration.
The Government of Manipur strongly disapproved “the constant meddling in the internal affairs of Manipur by the Mizo National Front.”
The Manipur government also pointed out that Mizoram itself had implemented strict measures against illegal immigration, such as prohibiting Myanmar nationals from purchasing land or running businesses without prior permission.
It questioned why the MNF opposed similar actions in Manipur.
“The Mizoram government has fixed 1950 as the cutoff year for defining Indigenous Persons under its Inner Line Permit system. Likewise, the Manipur People’s Bill set 1951 as the cutoff year, later revised to December 31, 1961. The MNF should reflect on this and recognize the scale of illegal immigration since 1951,” the statement said.
The Manipur government stated that it will not allow fragmentation of Northeast India at the behest of foreign vested interests either in Manipur or in its neighbourhood, cautioning that any individual, group or organisation working with such intent shall be met with the strong hands of the law.
The Mizos share ethnic and kin ties with the Kuki-Zo community.
The MNF statement came days after party leader and Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram K. Vanlalvena demanded the imposition of the President’s Rule in Manipur and the ouster of CM Biren Singh.
The statement called upon the BJP-led central government to take urgent and decisive action to end the crisis in Manipur, ensuring that the people “reclaim their democratic rights and dignity”.
“The suffering inflicted upon ethnic Mizo brethren due to ethnic conflict has reached intolerable levels,” it read.
“Under Biren Singh’s administration, as of November 22, 2024, the violence has claimed 219 lives of our ethnic kin, destroyed nearly 360 churches, and left countless others injured.
Over 7,000 homes have been burnt, and 200 villages reduced to ashes. More than 41,425 individuals are displaced, forced to live as refugees within their own country.
Such atrocities demand not just leadership but an unrelenting pursuit of justice and restoration,” stated the MNF.
The Manipur government also highlighted its “War on Drugs” initiative, which has reportedly seized or destroyed drugs worth Rs 60,000 crore in the international market since 2017.
The statement alleged that Mizoram had become a transit route for illegal arms, ammunition, and drugs between India and Myanmar, urging the MNF to focus on this issue instead of criticizing Manipur’s actions.
Efforts to restore peace in Manipur were also emphasized. The government claimed to have provided relief to over 60,000 displaced persons, conducted successful operations to recover stolen arms and ammunition, and ensured impartial investigations by involving agencies like the NIA and CBI.
A Commission of Inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge is also probing the origins of the ethnic conflict. Several efforts towards peace, including meeting of legislators convened have resulted in major developments with the Thadou community, the largest tribe in Manipur, and the Hmar tribe, expressing willingness to end the crisis, with the Meiteis and the Liangmai tribes reciprocating wholeheartedly, it added.
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