As the violence is still continuing in Manipur, the World Meitei Council (WMC) on Tuesday alleged that the government has not done enough to safeguard and protect the Meitei civilians.
The WMC conducted a press conference at the Press Club of India – Delhi with the attendance of WMC chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam and WMC national spokesperson Nabakishore Yumnam, stated a release signed by secretary general CEC Yambem Arun Meetei.
On the economic lifeline of the state, which is National Highway No 2 (NH2) that passes through Kangpokpi, a mere 10 km stretch where Kuki militants have been blocked, and the government is not doing enough to clear the blockade, it stated.
WMC demands that Meetei cannot be made the scapegoat in the Kuki Vs Government’s gameplan, it mentioned.
To bring normalcy in Manipur, the Government of India must contain, control and disarm the Chin-Kuki militants, it further stated.
"We still have not seen the effectiveness of the commitment given by the union home minister during his last visit to Manipur. Justice should precede Peace. Unless Justice is done to Meetei, there will be no durable peace in Manipur. The constitutional protection - ST status to Meetei is inevitable and Meetei cannot fall prey anymore to the changing dynamics of the geo-politics in the region,” it added.
Tracing the genesis of violence, the WMC stated that the desire for more land and power by the immigrants has led to the current violence. The demand for separate administration in Manipur has a bigger plan to realise their dream of Kukiland, it stated.
Most of the Kuki MLAs, who submitted a memorandum for a separate administration, are directly or indirectly related to the Kuki militant groups (under SoO) as per multiple news reports, it mentioned.
It questioned if the 10 MLAs played a major role to “instigate an orchestrated violence towards achieving their political goals. ”
The Assam Rifles who could have played a pivotal role in controlling the conflict rather acted in a biassed manner by almost aiding the Kuki militants as reported in various news media, it added.
The Meitei women started demanding the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Manipur because the credibility of Assam Rifles dwindled terribly, it further stated.
The WMC stressed that the Meitei has now lost confidence in the central security forces.
