Maheshwar meets Shah, suggests talks with other Kuki bodies
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 11 2023:
Republican Party of India (Athawale) national secretary Maheshwar Thounaojam on Friday met with union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and urged the latter to hold talks concerning the current crisis in Manipur with Kuki bodies/organisations representing the real Kukis indigenous to Manipur, other than Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF).
During the meeting, Maheshwar conveyed to the home minister that ITLF itself is synonymous with illegal immigrants, which everybody knows.
Thus, the term Indigenous' cannot be used by them as ITLF is formed by those Kukis who love war and segregation.
In addition, the organisation does not have any indigenous tribals like the Nagas.
Its members have been shown to be in possession of sophisticated weapons and working alongside militants, as seen in various videos.
Thus, the words of ITLF must not be considered for it will only lead to more violence, and as such, he suggested for the any peace talks to be held with the real indigenous organisations of Kukis.
He also submitted a memorandum for the indigenous people of Manipur as a whole.
The main points in the memorandum included ending the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants as various viral videos have shown the militants displaying their possession of new sophisticated weapons, thereby violating the ground rules of the agreement, along with presence of foreign militants; implementing National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, considering reports of influx of illegal immigrants and armed militants into the state; no separate administration in Manipur at any cost and an official assurance on the same; no burial site at Torbung Bangla in particular and in any part of Manipur at large; and complete removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur soil.
In response, the union home minister assured that there will be no separate administration and that the integrity of Manipur will not be compromised at any level.
He also promised to look into the matter deeply and act for peace in Manipur.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Maheshwar said that Meitei women, being part of the conservative society, consider their honour and dignity more important than life itself.
Nonetheless, despite having stayed silent for some time, the Meitei women, who suffer sexual violence at the hands of Kukis, have mustered up the courage to file police complaint and speaking about their ordeal.
Thus, it is impossible to cover up a burning fire for long, he remarked.
Stating that it is not the time for the central leaders to do politics over Manipur violence, he urged for discerning right from wrong and doing all that is needful to restore peace in the state.