Take back separate administration call : Joykisan to 10 MLAs
Ready to step down to protect State, says MLA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19 2023: In a bold announcement, Thangmei-band Assembly Constituency MLA Khumukcham Joy-kisan has said that he is ready to step down from being a member of the Assembly and join the public movement to protect the State's unity if the need arises.

The MLA also said that he won't even hesitate to die for the sake of unity and integrity of Manipur if the unrest in the State aggravates and poses a serious threat to the State.

Addressing a press briefing at his residence at Thangmeiband today, Joykisan said that the people of Manipur continue to live in apprehension owing to the ethnic conflict despite the hint semblance of normalcy returning.

He said that no one living in the State and beyond would have wanted the ethnic conflict to flare up in Manipur.

Making a political statement to fulfil a political aspiration is another thing but every Manipuri wants restoration of peace and normalcy in the State , he added.

"As a fellow member of the House and not as a spokesperson of BJP or the Government, I urge the nine Chin-Kuki MLAs, leaving aside the one legislator who got injured in the initial stage of the conflict, to withdraw their demand for establishing a separate administration," Joykisan appealed.

"Let the people of Manipur and future generations remember you all as the legislators of the State who prevented the balkanisation of Manipur ," Joykisan said in his earnest appeal to the Chin-Kuki MLAs.

Saying that the people of Manipur stood together whenever the territorial integrity of the State was questioned, Joykisan reminded that all 60 MLAs of the State Assembly are also the persons who have taken an oath to protect Manipur.

Appealing to all the civil society organisations and the people of Manipur to refrain from berating the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs 'as they may have raised the demand to establish a separate administration due to the pressure of the people' they represent, Joykisan asked all to let the 10 MLAs cool down their emotion and reconsider their demand.

"Instead of criticising them (the 10 MLAs), we must try to understand their grievances and work out a solution to restore peace and normalcy," Joykisan reasoned.

He further said that it would be more appropriate to find a way to de-escalate the tension than to provoke one another.

Saying that the Naga, Kuki, Meitei and Meitei Pangal living in the State have equal responsibility to protect the State's integrity, Joykisan reiterated that the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs may have demanded separate administration for their people due to certain pressure.

It is the responsibility of every elected representative to convince the people they represent to shun violence, Joykisan said and appealed to every MLA to find a mechanism to subdue the anger of the people they represent.

Further stating that many tribal people continue to live peacefully in the valley districts, the MLA appealed to all communities, CSO leaders and all other concerned in the hill districts to take up measures to keep the Meitei people living in their area feel safe.

"We all are the children of Ima Manipur and as such protecting the unity and integrity of the State must be our topmost priority.

Its time we forget and forgive one another for all that has happened," the MLA pleaded.

He also appealed to all the leaders of the State to work collectively to keep Manipur intact.

Saying that Chief Minister N Biren Singh had already conveyed about the commitment of the Centre to protect the unity of Manipur after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently, Joykisan continued that it, however, would be extremely difficult to protect the diverse structure of the State if there is no emotional binding among the people.

He went on to state that the Central leaders of BJP will never allow disintegration of the State.

Who will benefit if Meiteis are not allowed to enter the hill districts and Kukis restricted in the valley, he asked.

Saying that one of his vehicles was torched while rescuing one Kuki youth on May 4, the MLA said that he is happy to have been able to save one precious life despite the loss incurred.

He continued that the Centre and the Manipur Government have been probing to find the root cause of the ethnic conflict.

Saying that the conflict has done serious harm to both Meiteis and Kukis, Joykisan appealed to all the parties in conflict to forgive one another for the sake of the State's integrity.

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