Kuki MLAs deny CM's claim of keeping in touch
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 25 2023: In contradiction to the claim made by chief minister N Biren to the national media during his visit to Delhi to meet Union Home minister Amit Shah that he is in touch with 10 Kuki MLAs and that there is no question of division of Manipur, the 10 Kuki MLAs, who have raised the demand for separate administration, have clarified that they have not been in touch with CM Biren since outbreak of the ethnic violence on May 3 .

The national media quoted CM Biren, who was in the national capital to meet Amit Shah on Thursday, as saying that he is in touch with the 10 Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs who are demanding a separate administration for the people of Kuki-Zo community and assured the MLAs to provide security.

Biren also reportedly said that he had spoken with the civil society organisations in Imphal so that the Kuki MLAs are not stopped from visiting the valley for work.

However, in a statement jointly signed by the 10 Kuki MLAs, they vehemently denied the claims made by CM Biren regarding their alleged contact amidst the ongoing communal unrest.

The joint statement had signatures of MLAs Haokholet Kipgen, Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, LM Khaute, Ngursanglur Sanate, Letpao Haokip, Letzamang Haokip, Chinlungthang, Paolienlan Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen.

Another person signed in favour of MLA Vungzagin Valte, who is currently undergoing treatment.

The joint statement said that it is needless to mention the killings and complete mayhem since 3 May 2023, a stark reminder may be made of MLA Vungzagin Valte who is the adviser to the CM who was waylaid, lynched, and left to die by Meitei arsonists on the May 4 in Imphal while returning from a meeting at the official bungalow of the Chief Minister.

So far, no inquiry or arrest has been made, nor any progress of investigation reported till today.

"In fact, we do not want to face the same fate that our colleague had undergone; of late, Imphal Valley has become a "valley of Death" for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people," it added.

Maintaining that their official quarters and private residences are either looted, attacked, or burned by mobs and during which they do hot have any intention to communicate with CM N Biren, the joint statement further said that the CM's claim of communicating with the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs may be a ploy to sow seeds of mistrust and disunity between the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar ' MLAs and their people.

The 10 MLAs while admitting that they had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 16 demanding separate chief secretary and police chief for the affected hill districts as temporary measures pending the ongoing political dialogue of SoO groups with the government of India, said that they still stick to their "legitimate demand for the creation of separate administration within the purview of the Indian Constitution in order to restore permanent peace and settlement" .

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