Congress seeks clarification on BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip’s demand to divide Manipur

IMPHAL: The Opposition Congress on Wednesday asked the Manipur government to clarify its stand on the demand of BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip to divide the state into three union territories to restore peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state. Haokip is one of the 10 MLAs (including seven belonging to the BJP), who, along with several other tribal organisations, have been demanding since May 12 to create separate administrations (equivalent to a separate state) for the tribals, who constitute 40 per cent of Manipur's three million populations.

Manipur state Congress Vice President Hareshwor Goswami, rejecting Haokip's demand, disclosed that Kuki outfits -- United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) -- recently held talks with the Union Home Ministry wherein the demand of creating union territories was floated. The Home Ministry's Advisor, A. K. Mishra, was also present in the meeting, held in New Delhi. A total of 23 underground outfits under two conglomerates-8 under UPF and 15 under KNO-are currently under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India since August 2008.

"Both the central and state governments, along with the BJP, must clarify Haokip's demand to create three separate Union Territories in Manipur for the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities," Goswami said. Haokip has been advocating that the way forward to resolve the state's ethnic conflict is by creating three separate union territories for the three communities.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, and the influential Kuki organisation Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) have also been demanding separate administrations for the tribals. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and Meitei civil society organisations, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the Meitei community, had also strongly rejected the separate administration's demand.

The COCOMI, accompanied by Naga and Muslim organisations, organised a massive rally in Imphal last week opposing the division of Manipur. Political analysts observed that the creation of separate union territories for the Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis is also not feasible given the fact that there are mixed populations in many villages and districts in Manipur. Meiteis account for 53 per cent of Manipur's three million population, while Naga tribes make up 24 per cent and Kuki/Zomi tribes constitute 16 per cent. The valley areas, where the Meiteis are living, are around 10 per cent of the total geographical area of Manipur, while the hilly areas occupy around 90 per cent of the territory of the northeastern state. (IANS)

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