Imphal, May 14 (). The BJP government in Manipur is facing a big challenge as 10 tribal MLAs from different parties, including five from the BJP, are indirectly demanding a separate state for the Kuki tribals.
For almost a decade, some pro-tribal sections of civil society and non-governmental organizations have been demanding a separate state for the tribals living in Manipur. On Friday, 10 elected representatives of the Kuki tribals raised the same demand, pushing for a division of the northeastern state along ethnic lines.
The demand for a separate state assumes greater significance as two of the ten MLAs are ministers and one is BJP Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s advisor.
With the situation in Manipur returning to normal after the caste violence on May 3 and thereafter, all the ten MLAs from the Kuki community joined the N.K. Biren Singh government has been accused of failing miserably to protect the community. Therefore, they have resolved to pursue separate administration under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbors of Manipur.
Chief Minister Singh was facing serious dissidence in early April, just before the recent caste violence, when four senior BJP legislators resigned from their government posts. Two of the four MLAs were cabinet ministers in the first BJP government headed by Singh.
Four BJP MLAs reportedly camped in Delhi to place their grievances before the central leaders of the party. Apart from these four MLAs, around a dozen MLAs of the saffron party were also reportedly unhappy with Biren Singh’s style of functioning.
10 MLAs – five from the BJP, two from the JD-U, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one independent demanded a separate administration for tribals, who constitute about 37 to 40 per cent of the total 27.21.
There are differences of perception on many issues between tribals and non-tribals in the Northeast region, where tribals constitute 27-28 per cent of the population of 4.558 lakh.
While several northeastern states including Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya have separate states for the demand of tribals, the demand for a separate state in Manipur assumes greater significance as it was raised by the ruling party’s legislators and their allies.
The unabated violence in Manipur launched by the majority Meitei on May 3 and supported by the state government against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi hill tribesmen has already divided the state and Has effected total separation from the state of Manipur.
Our people can no longer live under Manipur, as hatred against our tribal community has reached such heights that legislators, ministers, clergy, police and civil officials, common man, women and even children are not spared.
The statement said that living again among the Meitei is like death for our people.
Asserting that they would consult with their people, the legislators said that as elected representatives of the people, we represent the sentiments of our people today and support their political aspiration to secede from the state of Manipur.
“Since the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we demand a separate administration from the Indian Union under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbors with the state of Manipur,” the statement said.
The ten MLAs include Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal Assembly constituency), Letzmang Haokip (Henglep), Nechal Kipjen (Kangpokpi), Paolinlal Haokip (Saikot), Vungjagin Walte (Thanlon), all BJP MLAs, Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh) and L.M. Khaute (Churachandpur), both JD-U MLAs, Kimneo Haokip Hungshing (Saikul) and Chinlunthang (Singhat), both KPA members, and independent MLA Haokholet Kipjen (Saitu).
The hills, comprising 10 of the 16 districts, account for 90 percent of the state’s area and 10 percent of the population, while the valley accounts for 10 percent of the land.
The valley is home to a Hindu, non-tribal Meitei community, while the hills are largely inhabited by Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities.
SGK
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