CoTU trashes chief minister's claims
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, January 24 2025:
In response to chief minister N Biren's recent statements dismissing allegations of discrimination between hills and valley, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has denounced his remarks as baseless and misleading.
The Committee also accused the CM of presenting a distorted narrative that fails to reflect the grim realities faced by tribal communities.
The "Go to Village" programme, touted as a cornerstone of equitable development, has been criticised as a veiled attempt to impose expansionist policies in tribal regions.
According to CoTU, the real markers of development-such as improved quality of life, access to quality education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods - are glaringly absent in the hills, exposing the programme as little more than a political gimmick.
It further lambasted the state government for what it described as an abject failure to deliver on key governance fronts, including addressing unemployment, starvation, militarisation, and the widening trust deficit between tribal and non-tribal communities.
It pointed to the eruption of violence on May 3, 2023, as a symptom of this systemic failure.
Additionally, CoTU condemned a recent wave of media reports alleging the recruitment of child militants in Ponlen village.
These reports, the committee asserted, are "irresponsible, defamatory, and a blatant violation of journalistic ethics".
Such narratives are designed to vilify the Kuki-Zo community and escalate tensions, CoTU said.
It emphasised the role of the media in fostering trust and understanding between communities rather than inflaming the volatile situation, while urging all stakeholders to focus on bridging divides and creating an environment conducive to peace and sustainable development.