Kuki-Zo MLAs not to join formation of new govt: Tribal bodies

IMPHAL, JUL 5 (IANS/AGENCIES): Manipur’s Kuki-Zo community has taken a unanimous political resolution that its MLAs will not participate in the event of the formation of and new government, ending the current President’s rule.
The decision was taken during a joint meeting of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) along with its federating units– Kuki Students’ Organisation-General Headquarters, Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi-General Headquarters, Kuki Christian Leaders’ Forum, Kuki Women’s Union-General Headquarters, Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights-General Headquarters, Kuki Chiefs’ Association-Manipur– and all district units of Kuki Inpi and heads of departments at the conference hall of KIM secretariat in Bijang on Friday.
KIM general secretary Khaikhohauh Gangte in a statement said that a joint meeting of eight Kuki-Zo tribal organisations and their district units held a meeting on Friday and resolved that no Kuki-Zo MLA shall participate or take part in any manner in the formation of a new popular government in Manipur.
“Under no circumstances shall the Kuki-Zo people compromise our ancestral land, culture, identity, and political, social and economic rights. This resolution is the collective political will and aspiration of the Kuki-Zo people and is binding upon all Kuki-Zo representatives and community organisations,” the statement said.
KIM has called on all concerned, including political representatives and civil society bodies, to adhere strictly to the resolution “in letter and spirit.” There are ten legislators belonging to the Kuki-Zo community and they have boycotted all the assembly sessions since the violence broke out on May 3, 2023. All Kuki-Zo tribal organisations have been demanding the creation of a separate administration equivalent to a Union Territory with a legislature for them. The ten Kuki-Zo tribal legislators, including seven belonging to BJP, also have been strongly supporting the separate administration demand.
On Saturday, BJP legislator Y Khemchand Singh lauded the Centre for its initiatives to restore peace and normalcy in the strife-torn Manipur and praised Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s approach to resolving the crisis. Singh said that as part of the measures taken to restore peace and normalcy in the state, security forces have been successfully conducting search operations to recover illegal arms and ammunition.