GUWAHATI: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) said on Saturday, after a “public consultation,” that 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, seven of whom are BJP members, should oppose N Biren Singh’s administration. This move suggests that ethnic tensions in Manipur would lead to a political clash.
The event also emphasized how critical it is to work with the government of neighboring Mizoram to shape the political destiny of the Kuki-Zo minority in Manipur.
According to ITLF, Kuki militant groups, who are presently participating in peace negotiations under a deal for a pause in operations with the Center, “should not sign for the integrity of Manipur” and should continue to support the demand for “a Union territory with a legislature”.
Days after the radical organization Arambai Tenggol purportedly organized a meeting with MLAs and MPs from the Imphal valley, the consultation in the Churachandpur district was held allegedly coercing them to endorse its demands, which ITLF described as anarchic.The ITLF called on the ten Kuki-Zo lawmakers to stand up for their community and „resign if the need arises“ by supporting the people’s goals and opposing the N Biren Singh-led administration. In order to determine the direction of their political movement, the convention recommended that militant organizations and Kuki MLAs meet, with Zo United serving as a facilitator. The BJP has 37 seats in the 60-member House, with the assistance of 14 lawmakers from the NPF (five), NPP (seven), and two Independents. There are nine MLAs in the opposition: Congress(5), JD(U)(1), KPA(2), and one independent.