KSDC renews Statehood call 'Stir to be much more intense this time'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2013: Joining the chorus of Statehood demanding which is rever-berating across the country , particularly in Assam, after the Congress led UPA Government agreed to the long standing demand for the creation of Telangana State in Andhra Pradesh, the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) has renewed its demand for creation of a separate 'Kuki State' .

The committee has also announced its next phase of agitation which it said would be much more stringent than before.

According to the provisional census report the strength of the Kuki tribe is over six lakh.

An umbrella body of several Kuki civil bodies and Kuki village chiefs of Manipur, KSDC, however, said that its stir programme would be announced either on Tuesday or the next day.

The proposed Kuki state

The announcement of the KSDC comes at a time when the United Naga Council (UNC) has intensified its Alternative Arrangement demand for the Nagas in Manipur outside the State Government pending a final settlement to the Naga political problem.

In pursuit of its demand, the KSDC had imposed economic blockade in 'Kuki areas' in Manipur for several days off and on since November 17 last year which gravely affected the daily lives of the people.

It suspended its latest stir that lasted for four days on July 11 this year.

"The Kukis have been urging the Centre for the creation of a separate State of their own since 1960 and a memorandum to this effect was submitted to the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru," said TS Kuki, the committee's vice chairman at a media conference here on Monday evening.

"We are not claiming others' or somebody's land and we are demanding that the State be created within our own land.

The Kukis and their forefathers' land had never been merged with the Indian Union since its independence and no agreement was signed between the Kukis and India when our land was merged and hence it is our legitimate right to create a Kuki State," he said.

The KSDC has been pressing the Centre to hold political dialogue with the Kuki militant outfits which are signatories of the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with the Government.

A Kuki State or a Kuki homeland within Manipur is the demand of the two umbrella organisations of the Kuki armed groups, which are party to the SoO pact.

"Since the Centre has been ignoring our legitimate demand, our next phase of agitation, which will be launched very soon, may be the last resort which means it will be much harsher than before.

We will announce our stir plan either tomorrow or day after," said the committee's spokesman K Khongsai.

"Since our demand comes under the purview of Article 3 of the Constitution, the matter is a Central subject," he said adding that there is nothing impossible in politics.

The KSDC's proposed 'Kuki State' map, encompassing the 'Kuki areas' covering around 65 percent of the whole area of Manipur spread over five hill districts, was also released to the media today.

It includes Churachandpur, Chandel, Sadar Hills in Senapati and large chunks of land in Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts.