Govt warns of action against ITLF
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 16 2023:
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) organised a mass rally against alleged atrocities on Kuki-Zo tribals of Lamka district on Wednesday and warned of setting up self-government even if the Centre recognises it or not.
As in a state or Union Territory, we will set up a self-government that will look into all matters in the Kuki-Zo areas, ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told media persons after the rally, adding that the forum is compelled to take up the step as the voice of Kuki-Zo people has not been heard.
Earlier, the rally set off from three different locations namely Kawnpui, Mualvaiphei playground and Pearsonmun playground converged at the site for Wall of Remembrance at Tuiboung, where a public meeting was held.
During the rally which kicked off at 11 am, protestors marching towards the Wall of Remembrance chanted slogans like 'We want justice', 'No Separate Administration, no rest' and.
'Selective justice is no solution' while some carries placards inscribed 'Discriminatory justice is not acceptable' besides others.
A banner with the inscription 'Kuki Zo lives matter and mass rally against atrocities on Kuki Zo tribals' was also carried by the protesters.
Talking to our Churachandpur correspondent on the sidelines of the public meeting, ITLF secretary Muan Tombing pointed out that it has been over six months that nothing has been done on Kuki-Zo people's demand of separate administration from Manipur government.
If our voice is not heard within a couple of weeks, we will set up our self-government, whether or not the Centre recognises it.
As in a state or Union Territory, we will set up a self-government that will look into all matters in the Kuki-Zo areas, he said adding that we have to do this since our voice has not been heard.
Meanwhile, education minister Th Basanta Kumar announced that the state government will be initiating legal action against ITLF, a Kuki-Zo organisation, which has been quite active in the on-going conflict, for its recent statement to disintegrate Manipur.
Addressing a press meet held at the conference hall of DIPR here on Thursday evening, Basanta said that the recent statement by ITLF has no legal or constitutional basis.
This irresponsible statement appears to be motivated and aimed at vitiating and disturbing the law and order situation in the state.
As such, a meeting of the ruling legislators was held on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting strongly condemned ITLF's statement, he Said, while informing that the government is initiating appropriate legal action against ITLF and the person(s) concerned.
Mention may be made here that during a rally taken out in Churachandpur on Wednesday, ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing spoke to the national media, stating that the Kuki-Zo have been demanding for a separate administration from Manipur government for the last six months.
However, no positive response or action has been taken up till date.
As such, a self-government will be set up if the demands of the Kuki-Zo are not met in two weeks, "whether the central government recognises it or not", he declared.
On the other hand, regarding the wrong history book recommended for Class XI under CoHSEM, the education minister clarified that the book in question had been withdrawn and excluded from the on-going session (2023), after a detailed examination by a Textbook Review Committee formed by the present government.
The book was included in the syllabi by the previous government in 2013 .
He continued that the students are currently studying a new book which is historically factual and monitored by the Review Committee.
Basantakumar then gave assurances to look into the legal action which could be taken up for writing and publishing a factually incorrect book, based on distorted history.