The United Peoples' Front (UPF) and the National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO) on Tuesday voiced their vehement opposition to the delineation of ethnic lines in the Central and state governments' initiatives to restore peace.
Terming it a "de facto separation of administration," both organisations expressed their concerns regarding this approach.
During a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Tuesday, NIPCO advisor Sunil Karam stated that the ongoing unrest, which has persisted for approximately 54 days, should not be categorised as an ethnic clash.
Instead, he attributed it to the Central government's leniency towards the SoO groups and further alleged that this leniency reflected a hidden agenda aimed at suppressing the Meetei community.
He also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah's three-day visit to the state, stating that it seemed more focused on assessing the death toll for compensation purposes rather than restoring peace.
The attacks by Kuki militants were ongoing during Shah's visit, he alleged and continued after Amit Shah’s departure from Manipur, he added.
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Expressing disappointment, he pointed out that despite the deployment of 40,000 paramilitary forces and 35,000 state forces in Manipur, civilians remained unprotected from SoO groups and the Myanmar-based militant group PDF.
The advisor emphasised that controlling the SoO groups should not be a monumental task if the government demonstrated sufficient resolve and advocated for confining the SoO groups as a solution to the current unrest.
He also called upon the people of Manipur, including politicians and civil society organisations, to unite and collectively fight for the future of Manipur.
The press conference was attended by UPF president N Rupachandra and NIPCO president Oinam Premjit.
