Imphal, June 26, 2023 (PPI-OT): All Manipur Tribal Union general secretary Lalboi Neihsial has said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is treating Christian tribe, Kukis, like “stepchildren”. According to Kashmir Media Service, in an interview with Karan Thapar, Lalboi Neihsial spoke at length about the steps that are needed, both immediate and long term, to resolve the crisis in the north-eastern state.
Speaking on the day the Indian home minister convened an all-party meeting to discuss the crisis in Manipur, the general secretary of the All Manipur Tribal Union, which represents all the hill tribes of the state, the majority of which are Kuki and Naga, has blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for treating Kukis like “stepchildren”. Lalboi Neihsial said, “Prime Minister Modi is like a father but he’s treating the Kukis like stepchildren”. He added, “We feel let down by the PM.”
In a 36-minute interview with Karan Thapar, Neihsial, who is also the vice president of the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council, spoke at length about the steps that are needed, both immediate and long term, to resolve the crisis in Manipur. Neihsial said the first immediate step is to dismiss chief minister Biren Singh and institute President’s Rule. He suggested the only reason the Union government has refused to dismiss Singh – even though as many as 15 BJP MLAs, almost 50% of the legislature party, have expressed a loss of faith in the CM – is because Modi and Shah are grateful to Biren Singh for having brought the BJP to power and believe he secures Meitei votes for the BJP.
More importantly, Neihsial made absolutely clear and repeatedly insisted that the next step, after imposing President’s Rule, is to concede a separate administration for the Kukis. He made clear that this is the first preferred option of the Kuki community and not their last resort. He made it crystal clear that there are no steps which can be taken that could build trust and reconciliation between the Kuki and the Meitei. He specifically ruled out any process of truth and reconciliation which was endorsed by the playwright Ratan Thiyam. Neihsial said there was no point in even attempting this. He said it would not succeed.
Speaking about what sort of special administration the Kukis want, Neihsial said autonomous territorial councils, with Schedule 6 of the Constitution applying (which at the moment does not apply in Manipur), was not sufficient. In other words, a Bodoland-type solution is not acceptable. This may have been considered and found acceptable before the present troubles began on May 3 but that is not the case anymore. He said that the Kukis either want a separate state or a union territory with its own legislature.
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