Imphal: The Naga People’s Organisation, Kangpoki, Friday ridiculed ten Kuki-Zo MLAs’ demand for separate Chief Secretary and DGP for the five hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl in Manipur and also Rs 500 crore to rehabilitate the internally displaced Kuki-Zo people in the wake of communal clash since May 3.
Taking strong exception to a memo submitted to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on 16th August, by the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, the organisation said that having 13 Naga tribes in Kangpokpi, they are the first and original settlers in the district. However, these Indigenous Naga tribes have been reduced to minority groups completely outnumbered by the influx of illegal immigrants from across the international border triggering a host of problems like demographic imbalances, ethnic conflicts, recognition and identification of villages and land disputes.
There are also issues of unrecognised villages pending in the Revenue department of the state. The interest of the Nagas shouldn’t be ignored and overlooked by the Centre as the district of Kangpokpi has a fairly large population of Nagas apart from the Nepalis and other minuscule ethnic groups, he said.
Asking the government not to relocate those displaced persons and construct of semi-permanent houses in the district, the Naga body alleged that the two national highways – 02 and 37 which pass through the district have come under illegal, unauthorised and unabated collections of ransom and taxes by the Kuki militants.
It further said that Nagas in the Kangpokpi district have not been associated with the activities of the so-called COTU since its formation.
The Nagas in Manipur are not a part of this body from day one. On the other hand, the Kukis of the hill districts of Manipur should not defile or desecrate the name ‘Tribals’ as a whole in their demand as the Nagas are not involved in the ongoing ethnic conflict, it added.
If and when the Kukis and their CSOs consider Kangpokpi district, a break away from the previous unaltered Senapati District as their own disregarding the sentiments of the indigenous people, then it will not remain a mute spectators but hit back hard with historical facts, a statement signed by its secretary Saichal Boyes Kharam, warned.
Claiming the present ethnic clash is the worst communal violence in the history of Manipur, the NPOK also appealed to all sections of the people not to utter irresponsible and unwarranted comments which would jeopardise the peace and tranquillity in the state.
