Manipur conflict: Not communal but National issue, says SANULAL
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 26 2023:
Stating that the conflict ravaging Manipur is not communal but a national issue, Salai Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup (SANULAL) has urged the Indian Government to stop the fragmentation of India.
Addressing the media during a press conference held today at Manipur Press Club, Akoijam Shanti, general secretary, SANULAL said that many statesmen, experts and those in the media fraternity have painted the ongoing turmoil as a Meitei vs Kuki conflict while the European Parliament has depicted it as a religious clash between Hindus and Christians.
In order to properly understand the nature of this conflict, people need to understand the conflict itself.
And without a clear understanding of the aspirations of the two communities, one cannot grasp why the conflict rages on, she maintained.
She also claimed that in ITLF's June 29 memorandum submitted to the UNO, they have clearly laid down the aspirations of the Kuki community as the formation of a separate nation or separate administration.
The ten MLAs have also strongly put forth their demand for a separate administration, she pointed out.
Shanti alleged that it is a well-known fact Kukis want to merge the Kuki inhabited areas in Myanmar, Manipur, Assam and Tripura and create a land for the Kukis.
She also mentioned the detection of 2480 illegal immigrants from Myanmar by a Cabinet sub committee as well as the influx of 718 illegal immigrants from Myanmar in Chandel district on July 22 and 23 .
The influx of illegal immigrants has greatly impacted the demography of the State and the cultivation of poppy through large scale deforestation of the hills has brought about its own set of harmful consequences, she maintained.
Thus, stating that this is a national issue, she urged the Indian Government to intervene and halt any designs to create a 'Kukiland' by fragmenting the country.