KNF rejects charges of backing SH stir
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 13 2011:
Denouncing it as a blame game intent of maligning its image, Kuki National Front (KNF) has expressed strong disagreement over the allegation and accusation imposed upon it by the State Government of backing the ongoing economic blockade and general strike over the issue of district demand for Sadar hills.
Talking to mediapersons at its designated Camp Ebenezer today, general secretary of KNF Aaron Kipgen informed that on August 6, Home Commissioner, Government of Manipur summoned leaders of Kuki National Front and United Kuki Liberation Front for a special meeting at his office chamber in the presence of Joint Secretary Home, Additional DGP and SP (CID) Special Branch.
"In the said meeting, the State representatives told us that they have received reports of our involvements in the ongoing blockade and general strike over the demand for upgrading Sadar Hills to a revenue district.
To this we clarified that it is a public uprising and that we have no involvement.
"The State representatives, then, requested us to abstain from bandh/blockade.
Subsequent to the meeting, KNF submitted a clean sheet to the Chairman of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), Suspension of Operations on August 8 at a meeting of the JMG," Aaron Kipgen said.
Inspite of all the efforts to keep the ongoing peace process intact, the State Government has openly accused KNF of being a support centre of the Sadar Hills district demand imbroglio, Aaron Kipgen lamented, while informing that in the JMG meeting, 'the DGP even warned us that they would relocate the cadres of KNF at the Ist Manipur Rifles campus while the agitation is still underway and the State Government would not extend the suspension of operation (SoO) for KNF' .
Aaron Kipgen went on to say that as there is no question of involvement in the blockade, KNF views such accusation as a 'blame game' of the State Government and misusing the name of the organisation to defuse the mob.
This is nothing but an act of irresponsible governance, he added while questioning why the Government of Manipur has resorted to such tactics instead of acting responsibly and understanding the sentiments of the people of Sadar Hills.
Aaron Kipgen observed that this is not an 'integrity' issue but an issue of all the people inhabiting Sadar hills.
Appealing to the Government of Manipur to stop levelling false charges against the organisation for the sake of the ongoing peace process, Aaron Kipgen reiterated that the political objective of KNF is attainment of Statehood (Kukiland) and it cannot be compared with the demand for districthood.