New Delhi: The People's Alliance for Peace and Progress Manipur and Delhi Manipuri Society has alleged that the violence in Manipur has been orchestrated by illegal migrants coming from Myanmar.
“The violence in Manipur was committed under a well-planned conspiracy. The people of the Kuki community who have come from Myanmar in an unconstitutional manner have also got jobs in the Central Government,” alleged Bhagat Oinam, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a member of the Delhi Manipuri Society on Tuesday.
The People's Alliance for Peace and Progress Manipur and Delhi Manipuri Society advocate for the Meitei community of the State. “The Bharatiya Janata Party government has taken strict action against the drug mafia and that is why the drug mafia became active in this incident and they have a big role in this Manipur violence,” alleged Oinam.
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Admitting that Kukis influence the electoral politics in Manipur, Oinam said, “Kukis who came from outside the State (Myanmar) registered themselves as voters and try to dominate others and that is why this violence happened and people of a particular community were targeted.” Meiteis account for 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. The tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
“There is a fear in the Kuki community that if the Meitei community is given ST status, then the jobs of the Kuki community will be at risk, this is also a reason for the violence,” said Oinam. On May 3, violence broke out in Manipur after a “Tribal Solidarity March '' was organised in the 10 hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Oinam said that several members of the Meitei community are stuck in the violence-hit Churachandpur district. Rubina, an eyewitness from the Churachandpur district said that timely help was not provided to them during the violence. “If the government had helped us on time and controlled the violence, then such a big incident would not have happened. This is a failure of the state government,” alleged Rubina.
She further claimed that in this violence people belonging to the Meitei community were targeted and their houses were demolished. Rubina demanded the restoration of normalcy and peace in Manipur.
