At Jantar Mantar, the Kuki Students’ Organisation and Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum rally for a Union Territory with a Legislature, citing ethnic violence and government neglect. A memorandum submitted to PM Modi highlights their struggle for survival and self-governance.
BY PC Bureau
Members of the Kuki-Zo community staged a protest at Jantar Mantar today, demanding justice and political autonomy. Organized by the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO) Delhi & NCR and the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum, Delhi & NCR, the protest aimed to address the systemic marginalization and injustices faced by the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur.
Urgent Call for Political Solution
In a press statement released today, the KSO and Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum highlighted the historical and ongoing marginalization of the Kuki-Zo community. The statement underscored the urgent need for a political solution, emphasizing that the community has been an integral part of the Indian Union since its inception. Despite their significant contributions to the nation, the Kuki-Zo people have faced systemic exclusion from mainstream governance structures in Manipur.
Demands for Separate Administration
The protesters put forth several demands, with the primary one being the creation of a Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with Legislature for the Kuki-Zo community. They argued that this is the only viable path to the emancipation of the Kuki-Zo people, who have endured historical injustices, including forced assimilation, land seizures, cultural suppression, genocides, and other atrocities.
Establishment of a Committee
The Kuki-Zo community urged the Central Government to establish a committee to devise a roadmap for the creation of a Separate Administration at the earliest. They stressed that this step would demonstrate the government’s commitment to resolving Manipur’s complex problems and fostering mutual trust.
Protection of Rights and Interests
Another key demand was the protection of the rights and interests of the Kuki-Zo community, including land rights, cultural heritage, and linguistic identity. The protesters argued that a Separate Administration would enable them to preserve their unique cultural heritage and linguistic identity without external suppression.
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Non-Arrest of Innocent Village Volunteers
The protesters also demanded the non-arrest of Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers who have defended their community against Meitei atrocities. They insisted that unless the government ensures absolute protection against such attacks, they would not relinquish their arms.
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Memorandum Submitted to PM Modi
As part of the demonstration, representatives from the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum and KSO Delhi & NCR submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, detailing their grievances and demands. The memorandum highlighted decades of systemic exclusion, forced assimilation, land dispossession, and cultural suppression, stating that the Kuki-Zo people have been treated as second-class citizens in Manipur.
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- Key Demands in the Memorandum:
- Creation of a Separate Administration – Union Territory with Legislature
- The Kuki-Zo community demands the establishment of a Union Territory with a Legislature under Article 279A and Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.
- They argue that decades of persecution, targeted violence, and political neglect make it impossible for them to live under a Meitei-dominated government.
- Formation of a Special Committee for Separate Administration
- The memorandum calls for the formation of a high-level committee to draft a roadmap for the Separate Administration.
- Leaders stressed that this would be a crucial step toward resolving the conflict and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
- Protection of Kuki-Zo Rights and Cultural Heritage
- The protesters demanded immediate safeguards for their land rights, language, and cultural identity, fearing further marginalization and forced assimilation.
- Security from Meitei-Led Atrocities
- Protesters alleged that security forces have failed to protect Kuki-Zo villages from armed Meitei groups.
- They insisted that Kuki-Zo people must not be disarmed unless the government guarantees their safety with adequate security deployment.
- Recognition of Constitutional Rights
- The memorandum urged the government to formally recognize their right to self-governance under Articles 2, 3, and 9A of the Indian Constitution.
- They stressed that the Kuki-Zo people, like all citizens of India, deserve equality, dignity, and the right to shape their own future.
The protest was marked by emotional speeches, fiery slogans, and repeated calls for urgent government intervention. Prominent speakers, including Lamminthang (General Secretary, KSO Delhi & NCR), Thanginoi (Education Secretary, KSO GHQ), Nu Maria (ABAVP North East Zonal President), and Pa Boilen Haokip (Advisor, KSO Delhi & NCR), condemned the targeted killings and forced displacements of the Kuki-Zo community. They recounted stories of villages burned down, women assaulted, and families torn apart, highlighting the humanitarian crisis faced by their people.
Exclusion of Zomi Students’ Federation
While the protest aimed to unite all Zo tribes, the Zomi Students’ Federation, Delhi (ZSFD) declined an invitation to participate. In a letter, the ZSFD expressed solidarity with the cause but raised concerns about the protest being exclusive to Kuki-Zo people.
- Creation of a Separate Administration – Union Territory with Legislature
