Tangkhul student body demands CM’s resignation

IMPHAL, SEP 29 (NPN): A Tangkhul (Naga) student body in Manipur on Tuesday demanded the resignation of chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh if he fails to protect the interests of the indigenous people of the state.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, president Yarchuiso Kashung of the Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long (TAKL), also known as the Southern Tangkhul Students’ Union, accused the state government of failing to safeguard the lives and properties of citizens along the international border.
He alleged that instead of resolving the crisis besieging the state, the chief minister continued to make appeals for peace and normalcy. “How can peace be restored without addressing the root cause? Naga want peace. Meitei too want peace. Then why does the violence continue, and who is behind it? The government, particularly the chief minister, must know,” Kashung said.
Stating that the chief minister should focus on protecting indigenous people, Kashung asserted that if he cannot do so, he must resign on moral grounds. He warned that if both the Government of India and the Manipur government failed to act, the TAKL might be compelled to seek help from foreign countries like China.
Expressing concern over the plight of indigenous communities, Kashung cited recent killings in Tamenglong, Senapati, and Kamjong districts, including the murder of four Tangkhul villagers at Pilong village by militants of the KNF-B based in Myanmar. He noted that such cross-border attacks were not isolated incidents, pointing to assaults on villages like Namlee, Wanglee, and Winlong.
Citizens along the Indo-Myanmar border continued to face insecurity, he said, adding that repeated pleas for adequate security deployment had gone unanswered. “Are we not Indian? Is Manipur not a part of India?” he questioned, while condemning the government’s silence over continuous killings.
Calling for decisive measures to restore security, Kashung stressed that condemnations alone were not enough. He demanded that the chief minister resign if he cannot effectively handle the situation and protect the lives and property of citizens.