Memo to CM demands sacking of Kuki ministers
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 30 2024:
Naharol Lamjing Meira (NLM) has urged chief minister N Biren to drop two Kuki ministers from his Council of Ministers, while also demanding a clear declaration of stance by the state government regarding the ongoing violence in the state.
In a memorandum submitted to CM Biren, NLM highlighted concerns over the role of Chin-Kuki-Zo leaders in perpetuating unrest and sought immediate action to address the issue, while pointing out that the ongoing violence in Manipur - provoked by the Chin-Kuki-Zo people since May 3, 2023 - is part of a decade-wise action plan to realise their 'fantasised homeland Za-lengam' on the soil of Manipur.
The body accused the 10 Chin-Kuki-Zo MLAs, including cabinet ministers Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen, of openly supporting Chin-Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists and advocating "Separate Administration", as evidenced in a press statement issued on May 12, 2023.The memorandum also reminded the CM that the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly had been requested to initiate disqualification proceedings against the 10 MLAs through a letter dated November 22, 2024 apart from the BJP Manipur Pradesh president urged to take disciplinary action against five of the BJP MLAs involved, as communicated in a letter dated December 11, 2024, it added.
Drawing the attention to statements by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the memorandum cited his September 17 assertion that the incidents in Manipur were ethnic violence rather than terrorism contrary to another statement in an interview with Aaj Tak on December 15, 2024, that the violence in Manipur was not related to terrorism or religion but clashes between two communities.
The memorandum then pointed to the observations made by national media houses, retired army general officers, and a former chief justice of a High Court, describing the ongoing violence as an act of terrorism with foreign involvement.
The Naharol Lamjing Meira pointed out that strategies to resolve terrorism related violence differ significantly from those ad dressing ethnic violence.
It then urged the CM to take immediate actions by removing Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen from the Council of Ministers, on the ground that they are fuelling the current unrest.
The body also demanded that the state government declare whether the ongoing violence, provoked by the Chin Kuki-Zo people, is related to terrorism or solely ethnic violence, as stated by the Union Home Minister.
The memorandum then stressed the urgency of addressing these issues in the interest of the people of the state in general and the Meetei community in particular.