Kangpokpi Naga body opposes demands of 10 Kuki MLAs
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, August 25 2023: The Naga People's Organisation, Kangpokpi district (NPOK), Manipur has raised strong objection to the memorandum submitted by ten Kuki-Zo MLAs to the Prime Minister of India on August 16, demanding appointment of separate chief secretary and DGP for the five hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl and immediate release of Rs 500 crore from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to rehabilitate the internally displaced Kuki-Zo people in the wake of the "worst communal carnage" since May 3 .

The NPOK, in a statement made available to the Network on Thursday stated that the Nagas in Kangpokpi dis trict having 13 tribes, "the native people of the bifurcated district, deeply deplore the move of the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs asking for a separate chief secretary and DGP".

The NPOK also said the "Indigenous Nagas who happened to be first and original settlers of the district have been reduced to minority groups completely outnumbered by the influx of illegal immigrants from across the international border trig gering host of problems like demographic imbalances, ethnic conflicts, recognition and identification of villages and land disputes" .

The NPOK pointed out that there are issues of unrecognised villages pending in the Revenue department of the state and cautioned that interest of the Nagas shouldn't be ignored and overlooked by the Government of India as the district of Kangpokpi has a fairly large population of Nagas apart from the Gorkhas and other ethnic groups.

The NPOK further said the internally displaced persons shouldn't be allowed to relocate to the district of Kangpokpi and no new semi-permanent houses for the IDPS should be built within the district.

It further said the National Highway 02 and 37 which passes through the district has come under illegal, unauthorised and un-abated collections of ransom and taxes by the Kuki militants.

The NPOK made it clear that the Nagas of Kangpokpi district have not been associated with the activities of the "so called COTU" since its formation.

The NPOK further said the Nagas in Manipur are riot a part of this body from day one.

On the other hand, the Kukis of the hill districts of Manipur should not defile or desecrate the name "tribals" as a whole in their demand as the Nagas are not involved in the on going ethnic conflict, the NPOK asserted.

The statement then said, "In the light of the above facts, if and when the Kukis and their civil society organisations consider Kangpokpi district, a break away from the previous unaltered Senapati district, as their own disregarding the sentiments of the indigenous people, then it will not remain a mute spectators but hit back hard with historical facts".

The NPOK also made an earnest appeal to all sections of the people not to utter irresponsible and unwarranted comments and also not to take recourse to unwanted and violent activities when the state has been reeling under the "worst communal carnage" ever happened in the history of the state.

The NPOK also said it was deeply grieved by the unfolding ethnic crisis and pray for the early return of peace and tranquillity in the state.

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