KSDC to block BCIM rally in 'Kuki areas'
Source: The Sangai Express / Singlianmang Guite

Lamka/Imphal, February 22 2013: The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC), has threatened to block entry of the Bangladesh,China, India , Myanmar (BCIM) car rally inside 'Kuki areas' in the State during its indefinite public blockade scheduled to begin from Sunday midnight.

Significantly the KSDC has also issued another map of the proposed Kuki State today.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday flagged off the rally in Kolkata and the cars are scheduled to enter Manipur through Jiribam-sub-division bordering Assam along NH 37 on Tuesday.

After halting a night in Imphal, the rallyists would leave for Moreh towards Myanmar on Wednesday.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh will flag off the rally at Kangla, officials said.

The KSDC has imposed public blockade in 'Kuki inhabited areas' for several days on and off since November 17 last year in pursuit of its demand for creation of a separate 'Kuki state' within Manipur and after a gap of 28 days it announced the same stir from Sunday midnight.

The Kuki state

In pursuit of its demand, the KSDC has been demanding the Government to hold political dialogue with the Kuki militants groups which are signatories of the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact.

The KNO, one of the two umbrella organisations of the outfit has been demanding the creation of a Kuki State.

On January 27, KSDC suspended its last agitation after Ibobi Singh assured to take initiative for holding political dialogue between the Centre and the Kuki militant outfits.

"Denying the rights of the Kukis and their political aspiration for Kuki Statehood and drawing economic mileage through its territories is robbing the rights and resources of the owners (Kukis) in broad-day light which is hard to tolerate," a KSDC statement said.

It is a sad commentary on the integrity of the Centre that no tangible initiatives for political settlement of Kuki rights is forthcoming from them despite such a promise in writing, even now, as the Budget session is about to begin, the statement released today said.

"We have been cheated into letting the Asean-India car rally with promises of political talks for formation of Kuki State immediately following the winter session of Parliament," the statement said.

The ASEAN-India Car rally entered India through Moreh on November 14 last year.

Stating that the KSDC and the Kuki public would no longer fall prey to such deceitful promises this time, the committee said it would not allow the car rally to pass through Kuki territories in Manipur.

"Not a single car of the BCIM car rally will be allowed to pass through Kuki territories and any attempt to use force will be met with equal measure of resistance," it warned.

Any untoward incident occurring out of any disrespect towards the resolve of the Kuki people would be at the risk of the participants of the rally and the Centre should be held responsible for it, it said.

"Start political dialogue immediately with KSDC including Kuki militants for Kuki Political settlement in the form of Kuki State-the only panacea that will redress the grievances of Kukis in Manipur in all spheres," said the statement.