Kuki bodies resolve to oppose 'Unconstitutional and prejudice order'
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, October 14 2019: Enraged by the alleged 'illogical, unconstitutional and prejudice order' issued by the Home Department, GoM regarding the erection of monuments to observe Anglo-Kuki War (1917-19) Centenary Celebration 2019, all Kuki chiefs, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District and other CSOs resolved to resist the order at all cost today.

The Home Department had issued an order yesterday evening directing all the DC and SP to remove immediately any memorial stone with inscription of 'In defense of our ancestral land and freedom' erected in connection with centenary celebration of Anglo-Kuki War stating that it is an 'objectionable inscription' and there is apprehension of breach of peace and possibility of law and order problem.

Kuki bodies resolve to oppose 'Unconstitutional and prejudice order'

It may be mentioned that centenary celebration of Anglo-Kuki War (1917-1919) will be held at C Aisan village in Saikul Sub Division of Kangpokpi District on October 17 under the aegis of Anglo-Kuki War Centenary Celebration Committee.

In connection with the celebration, the Kuki Inpi Manipur had instructed all Kuki chiefs to erect a memorial stone with the inscription 'In defense of our ancestral land and freedom' in it few months back.

It is also worthy to recall that the centenary commemoration of the Anglo-Kuki War (1917-19) had begun since 2017.It (the commemoration) was first held at Lonpi village in Chandel district in 2017 and Songpi village in Churachandpur district in 2018 under the same inscription.

A large number of Kuki chiefs in Kangpokpi District under the aegis of Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District and various other CSOs including Kuki Women Union, KSO, etc, had an emergency joint meeting today at Kangpokpi DHQs in connection with the order of Home Department during which the Kuki chiefs, Kuki Inpi and other Kuki civil bodies strongly opposed the order and resolved to resist it by all means.

One of the Kuki Chief in the joint meeting said that Naga Independence Day was celebrated under the banner of South Nagalim right under the nose of Manipur Government in the soil of Manipur but the Government remained a mute spectator but when it comes to the centenary celebration of Anglo-Kuki War or the Kuki Rebellion, the longest freedom movement of India as well, Manipur Government under the one-sided Chief Minister taking into account the immature pressure of a particular community impudently issued an order to remove the memorial stone erected in commemoration of the great Anglo-Kuki War.

Another chief said that the preparation for the grand finale of centenary celebration of Anglo-Kuki War had begun few months back with inscription in its logo and the Chief Minister himself happily accepted the invitation of the Kuki Inpi and the organizing committee to grace the auspicious occasion as Chief Guest but he found the inscription 'objectionable' and issued an order in the eleventh hour when all the stage are set for the celebration.

Speaking on the sideline of the joint meeting, Thangminlen Kipgen, president KSO Sadar Hills flanked by Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi and KWU Sadar Hills representatives termed the Home Department order as 'illogical, unconstitutional and prejudice' and all the Kuki chiefs, Kuki Inpi and CSOs have decided in a joint meeting today that no inscription on the monolith of Anglo-Kuki War commemoration shall be changed and no monolith shall be removed whatsoever.

He also said that it was also unanimously resolved that all the Kuki chiefs should prepare for peace and at the same time they should also prepare for any untoward incident.