The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the main civil society organisation of the Meitei community, on Tuesday urged the Centre not to hold any talks with Kuki militant groups, claiming that members of those outfits are responsible for the current turmoil in the state and their cadres are “foreigners”.
On the other hand, the Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC), an organisation advocating the cause of nine Kuki-Zomi tribes of Manipur, on Tuesday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a permanent solution of the ethnic crisis of Manipur and demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state.
"It was learnt from various sources that the government of India is likely to hold talks with the Kuki outfits. COCOMI and many other Manipur organisations are totally against it,” COCOMI Convenor Jitendra Ningomba told the media in Delhi.
He said that the COCOMI, in support of its demand of maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, would organise a rally in the state on July 29.
Claiming that the Centre was deliberately supporting narco-terrorism in the northeastern region, the COCOMI leaders claimed that Director of Intelligence Bureau reported 1,25,000 acres of hill areas in northeast region are under poppy cultivation, while about 650 MT of opium was produced annually from Manipur hill areas of Kuki-dominated areas, earning Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 65,000 crore income annually.
"These areas are protected and managed by armed Chin-Kuki Militants,” the COCOMI leaders claimed.
Meanwhile, 10 tribal MLAs, including seven BJP legislators, belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur have urged the Centre to create a separate administration (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals but Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, on number of occasions, rejected the demand.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ZCSC also demanded an NIA investigation "into the root causes of the state-sponsored attacks on the tribals of Manipur and re-introduction provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) in all valley districts so that the Army can take full control of the law and order".
The organisation alleged that selective series of attacks on the Kuki-Zomi tribes continue unabated, and heinous crimes against humanity are committed by radicals since May 3.
The Constitutional failure and collapse of law and order in the state necessitated President's Rule immediately to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, the letter said. It alleged that over 5000 sophisticated arms and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were looted from state armouries across the state.
The systematic injustice, institutional neglect and discrimination of the Kuki-Zomi tribals have been continuing for many decades, the ZCSC claimed.
Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil suspends indefinite hunger strike
Pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Thursday suspended his indefinite hunger strike while giving a warning to the state government to stage a fresh protest in Mumbai if the demands made by him are not met.
Some people politicising Manipur’s ethnic violence, confusing people: CM Biren Singh
Biren Singh said that his government's opposition to the immigrants in the state is because they are engaged in drug-related activities and poppy cultivation and these migrants are also creating serious socio-economic problems for the indigenous people.
India world's go-to launch pad: PM Modi
India is becoming the world's go-to launch pad with a record number of foreign satellites being launched from the country in the last decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.
Terrorist movement detected along LoC in J&K's Poonch, firing exchange on
Alert troops detected terrorist movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Khari Karmara area of J&K’s Poonch district on Thursday after which a firing exchange broke out between the soldiers and the terrorists and is still on, the Army said.
Budget session of Parliament kicks off tomorrow
The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Friday (January 31) with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled to table the Economic Survey after President Droupadi Murmu addresses the joint session of both Houses in the morning.
PM Modi shares glimpses of his journey towards Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a series of captivating pictures highlighting his key engagements throughout January, showcasing India's journey towards a "Viksit Bharat".
No survivors yet of mid-air Washington DC collision
No survivors have yet been found of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington DC Wednesday night.
Will make proposals based on NE’s socio-economic & geographical situations: Arvind Panagariya
The 16th Finance Commission while making its recommendations would keep in mind the socio-economic and geographical situations of the northeastern states, the panel chairman Arvind Panagariya said here on Thursday.