The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) has demanded clarification from Union Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) statement and the affidavit where both the organisations under Suspension of Operation (SoO) had revealed their support to the BJP.
Speaking to mediapersons at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal, on Thursday, AMBA president P Tomcha alleged that the armed Kuki militants under SoO are blackmailing the Government of India in connection with the present crisis happening in the state that has killed over 100 persons and leaving over 40,000 people homeless.
The president of the lawyers’ body said that the Kuki militants had openly stated that they had supported the BJP in forming the government in 2017 and during the 2020 state Assembly election after the BJP leaders assured settlement of the Kuki political aspirations.
“What is this Kuki Political Aspiration? The Union Minister should answer to the people of the state, or else the Home Minister is liable for what is happening in the state today”, Tomcha said.
In a statement dated February 23, 2022, signed by the KNO president PS Haokip, it was stated that Union Home Minister Amid Shah had announced for settlement of the Kuki Political Aspiration in his public address on February 23, 2022 at Churachandpur Public Ground.
The statement said, “KNO has resolved to extend support to all BJP candidates for the 12th Manipur Assembly Election”. On the other hand, the chairman of the UKLF, SS Haokip, in his affidavit to the NIA, had submitted a letter written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 7, 2019 at which he stated that the UKLF had extended their fullest support to the BJP as agreed between Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa Sharma and the UKLF and UPF (another SoO signatory).
It is said that as per the statement of both the Kuki militant groups, the people have every reason to believe that there is a strong relation between the Kuki militants and the BJP which is ruling the centre and the state, Tomcha said.
The president of the lawyers’ body demanded immediate clarification from the Government of India in connection with the nexus between the Kuki militants and the BJP as well as Manipur.
