Legal action demanded against Kuki MLAs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 20 2023: Former acting chairperson of Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Khaidem Mani has written a letter to the Director General of Police, Manipur, Rajiv Singh urging for immediate legal action against the 10 MLAs from the Chin-Kuki-Zomi-Hmar community, including two cabinet ministers, for their alleged involvement in inciting enmity and disharmony between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

The letter written on Monday highlighted the troubling actions of the MLAs, who openly advocated for a separate administration for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar community, thereby fuelling tensions and conflicts between two communities in the state.

He accused the MLAs of orchestrating and abetting divisive narrative, leading to the over six-month long hostilities between the two communities.

The former acting chairperson cited a joint press statement issued by the 10 MLAs on May 12, wherein they alleged that the violence initiated by the majority Meetei community, tacitly supported by the Manipur government, has led to the partitioning of the state.

The MLAs contended that the tribal communities could no longer coexist with the Meetei and sought a separate administration under the Constitution of India, he maintained.

Furthermore, on May 15, the same MLAs submitted a memorandum to union home minister Amit Shah reiterating their demand for a separate administration.

The memorandum accused Meetei community of ethnic cleansing and atrocities, asserting that there were no tribals left in Imphal valley and no Meetei in the hills.

Khaidem Mani, in his letter, asserted that these actions of the 10 MLAs are not only illegal but also tantamount to vitiating racial enmity and hatred.

He contended that the allegations made in the press statement and memorandum are false and perverse, contributing to the division of Manipur and inciting Kuki militants, including narco-terrorists.

He urged the DGP to initiate appropriate legal actions against the erring MLAs, emphasising the need for justice in the interest of communal harmony and well-being of all the people living in the state.

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