Unveiling the mask of Kuki MLAs once again
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 07, 2024 -
Now that it is out in the open for all to see, there should be no more confusion in the mind of anyone, including those crying foul over the cancellation of the CBSE affiliation of some schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, regarding the role of 10 legislators representing the Kuki-Chin community in the Manipur Legislative Assembly in fueling the ethnic conflict that has embroiled the tiny northeastern Indian state since May 3 last year.
In their apology letters written to the Government of Manipur, the three senior officers working in the Education Department who were recently placed under suspension for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for some schools in two the districts to apply for affiliation with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) without the knowledge and approval of the state government have revealed that they were compelled to issue the NOCs under "duress" and "pressure" from elected representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs) and student bodies.
The documents enclosed by the three officers in their apology letters have clearly shown that four Kuki-Chin legislators elected from assembly constituencies in Churachandpur district and two others from assembly constituencies falling under Kangpokpi district had written to two Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and one Deputy Inspector of Schools exerting pressure for issuing the NOCs for 25 schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts to apply for affiliation with CBSE without following due process of law.
The bylaws of CBSE make it a legal requirement for any school under a State Board in India to get an NOC from the state government concerned before applying for affiliation.
Despite knowing this fact and the consequences they might face; the three officers had no choice but to give in to the pressure and put their signatures on the NOCs.
This is a bitter truth those crying foul over the cancellation of CBSE affiliation of schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, which came to light amidst the ongoing conflict in Manipur, should shallow now.
As for the rest of the people, including those in the corridors of power in Imphal and New Delhi, there should no more doubt in their mind of a larger conspiracy at play and actors behind fuelling the ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Chin and Meitei/Meetei that has roiled Manipur since May 3 last year.
Within days of outbreak of the ethnic conflict after some armed Kuki-Chin men clashed with the Meitei/Meetei over the latter's demand for recognition as Scheduled Tribe (ST), the 10 Kuki-Chin legislators, seven of whom belong to the ruling party and include two cabinet ministers in the N Biren Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, raised the demand for "a separate administration" for the Kuki-Chin people while contending that the "unabated violence that began on May 3, 2023 perpetrated by majority Meeteis, tacitly supported by existing Government of Manipur against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi hill tribals has already partitioned the state and effected a total separation" from Manipur.
Now, with the revelation that of the 10 Kuki-Chin legislators, four who got elected from assembly constituencies in Churachandpur district and two others elected from assembly constituencies falling under Kangpokpi district had written letters to exert pressure on two Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and one Deputy Inspector of Schools for issuing NOCs for 25 schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts to apply for affiliation with CBSE as early as mid-May, it is becoming more than crystal clear how the Kuki-Chin leaders have been making great effort to advance their nefarious agenda of disintegrating Manipur as a step towards realising their dream of 'Zalengam' right from the very beginning by propagating false narrative of minority Christian Kuki-Chin being prosecuted by majority Hindu Meitei/Meetei.
With this, one singular question that is in the mind of everyone today is - how long the 10 Kuki-Chin legislators who not only breached their oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India but also sowed the seed communal discord are going to be tolerated by those in the corridors of power both in Imphal and New Delhi?.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.