Not ethnic conflict between Kuki & Meitei, says AT chief
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 15 2026: Arambai Tenggol (AT) chief Korounganba Khuman has asserted that the Manipur violence is not an ethnic conflict between Kuki and Meitei but it is a conflict between indigenous people and illegal immigrants.

Speaking at the launch of a book titled "Demographic Imbalance in Manipur: Its Impact and Solution" at Manipur Press Club here today, Korounganba warned that people may do all kinds of unpredictable things if they are overcome by sentiments over the so-called buffer zone.

He remarked that the book released today is quite relevant to the Manipur crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023.The question of demographic imbalance is a very critical issue in Manipur but all the political parties of Manipur have been conveniently overlooking this issue, Korounganba said.

It is generally accepted that illegal immigrants are used as vote banks when their number constitutes 10 per cent or less of the native population.

Once their population reaches 20 per cent, they start demanding their rights.

When the immigration population crosses 30 per cent, they start demanding separate territory or State, he said.

Many people still don't have a clear idea of the Manipur crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023.Even though some elements have been portraying the crisis as an ethnic conflict between Kuki and Meitei, it is, in reality, a conflict between indigenous people and illegal immigrants, the AT chief said.

There was a people's movement before May 3, 2023 which demanded implementation of NRC ahead of any census operation.

This movement instilled fear among the illegal immigrants that the Government, responding to this movement, was about to start identification of illegal immigrants.

It was this fear which drove the illegal immigrants and their supporters to ignite a violent crisis in the State, Korounganba said.

As a result, the issue of NRC was pushed to the backburner, he added.

There are many among the elected representatives who are illegal immigrants.

There are Meitei villages in foothill areas where all the Gram Panchayat Members are outsiders.

In their efforts to win elections, elected representatives enrolled illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh in the voter list of Jiribam Assembly Constituency, he said.

He then called upon political parties to set aside all differences and pay due attention to the ever worsening demographic imbalance and focus on saving Manipur.

The book release function was jointly organised by IPSA and KSA .

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