“We can now live in peace only as good neighbours, never under the same roof again,” the MLAs told PM Modi, highlighting 16 months of ethnic strife. The joint memorandum accuses the majority community of persecution and urges the Centre to expedite talks for lasting peace and security.
BY PC Bureau
September 13 – In a rare display of unity cutting across party lines, ten Kuki legislators from Manipur have submitted a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing for an early political settlement for their community.
The memorandum, handed over during the Prime Minister’s maiden visit to Lamka, Churachandpur, highlights the deep anguish and demands of the Kuki people following 16 months of violent ethnic conflict.
“You are fully aware of how our people have been totally cleansed from the valley areas of Manipur, shamed, assaulted, raped, and ravaged, physically as well as mentally. It is an unprecedented ethnic persecution, with state complicity, by the majority community on our minority community,” the MLAs wrote.
Declaring that peaceful coexistence with the Meitei community under a common administration was no longer possible, the signatories stated: “We can now live in peace only as good neighbours, never under the same roof again.”
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The legislators urged the Prime Minister to expedite dialogue on their long-standing demand for a separate Union Territory with legislature, arguing that only this arrangement could guarantee lasting peace, justice, and security.
The ten signatories include seven BJP MLAs, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), and one Independent. Their names are: Vungzagin Valte, Ngursanglur Sanate, Paolienlal Haokip, Letzamang Haokip, Lallianmang Khaute, Letpao Haokip, Nemcha Kipgen (BJP); Chinlunthang Manlun and Kimneo Hangshing (KPA); and Haokholal Kipgen (Independent).
