KIM, COTU negate CM's claim
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, October 22 2023:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh saying "Manipur violence was planned years ago to press for a separate Nation (for Kuki-Zo)" in an interview to The Times of India has not gone down well with Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills Kangpokpi.
KIM and CoTU said the CM's statement was "against every evidence and fact" .
KIM's information and publicity secretary, Janghaolun Haokip said, "N Biren Singh has brazenly stated that the Manipur violence was planned years ago to press for a separate Nation against every evidence and fact.
The audacity of Biren Singh is exasperating" .
He claimed that the root cause of the May 3 mayhem in Manipur was the "mindless prejudice and illegitimate predilection for the persecution of the Kuki-Zo people by the Meiteis-led Manipur State leadership, the adoption of chauvinistic policies, the discrimination, oppression, and alienation of the Kuki-Zo people" .
He countered and alleged that "the violence was in fact pre-planned by radical Meitei groups in tandem with the Meitei-led Manipur State Government.
"In fact, these Meitei radical groups have started harassing and abusing the Kuki-Zo people since May 2 in the name of counter-blockade, while the immediate trigger of the conflict was the killing of one Pastor Sehkhohao Kipgen at Kangvai by the Meitei radicals on the evening of May 3," he alleged.
The allegation of a pre-planned attack in the name of a peaceful rally is utterly confounding, he added.
He also said that for the record, the peaceful rally was organized by the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), and therefore his (CM's) allegation is baseless.
"The demand for a Separate Administration from the Meitei-dominated Manipur State is a legitimate Constitutional right and to misinterpret it otherwise is an open defiance of the sanctity of the Constitution of India," he added.
Moreover, the notion of a "Separate Nation" is true in relation to the secessionist movements of "Meitei radicals" who have actively been involved in anti-National activities-the attack on Indian Security Forces, the boycott of Independence Day and Republic Day, and the rising voice for an Independent Kangleipak-an Independent Meitei kingdom, he asserted.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills Kangpokpi said the CM's remark in the interview with Times of India should not be considered as a statement from a responsible Chief Minister.
CoTU media cell's coordinator, NG Lun Kipgen said in a press conference on May 4, N Biren Singh admitted that the "ethnic violence is a result of a misunderstanding between two communities" .
On May 21, the CM changed his statement stating that "the ethnic violence resulted due to security and intelligence failure," he said.
On September 30, the NIA arrested Seiminlun Gangte, an "Assistant teacher working in the VN model school." The next day, the CM stated that the Kuki militants backed by foreign elements were waging war against India, said NG Lun.
The entire narrative pursued by N Biren Singh has no consistency per se, he said.
"The Manipur People's Bill 2015 was the brainchild of N Biren Singh to erase the powers of the Autonomous District Council.
The Bill shook the entire State costing nine precious lives including a minor," NG Lun said.