In the aftermath of the violence that erupted over the past week in Manipur, the lawmakers from the hill tribes have put forward a demand for a separate state, and Manipur Chief Minister has been summoned to Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to news reports from the area.

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh has been summoned by the central government following the large-scale violence in the state. He and a few of his cabinet colleagues arrived in New Delhi on Sunday (May 14).

Earlier in the week, on  Friday, ten tribal MLAs from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur urged the Centre to create a separate administration for their community in the wake of the recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals.

Of the 10 legislators, 7 belong to the BJP, two from Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the BJP.

In New Delhi, Manipur CM Biren Singh will apprise the Prime Minister and the union home minister about the current security situation in the state.

The state ministers, who have accompanied Manipur CM Biren Singh to New Delhi, are: Th Biswajit, Th Basanta Kumar, Y khemchand and Govindas Konthoujam. All these ministers are from the valley. Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi has also arrived in New Delhi for the meetings, it is learnt.

Ten tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur have urged the Centre to create a separate administration for their community in the wake of the recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals. Of the 10 legislators, 7 belong to the BJP, two from Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the BJP.

“As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek from the Union of India a separate administration under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur,” the MLAs said in the statement released Friday (May 12). The legislators alleged that violence was perpetrated by the majority Meitei community and was “tacitly supported” by the BJP-run state government.

The 10 Manipur MLAs, who released the statement to the media, are: Haokholet Kipgen (Saitu), Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh), Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (Saikul), Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal), LM Khaute (Churachandpur), Letzamang Haokip (Henglep), Chinluthang (Singngat), Paolienlal Haokip (Saikot), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi) and Vungjagin Valte (Thanlon).

The ten tribal MLAs stated that the violence “perpetrated against the hills tribals” has “effected a total separation from the state of Manipur”.

The MLAs also blamed the people belonging to the majority Meitei community in Manipur for the “unabated violence” against the tribals in the state.

Furthermore, the MLAs also accused the Manipur government of ‘supporting’ the miscreants involved in the violence.

“As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek of the union of India a separate administration under the constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with state of Manipur,” the tribal MLAs stated.

On Thursday (May 11), the Manipur government claimed that the overall law-and-order situation in the state is under control despite “sporadic incidents of violence”.

Manipur government spokesperson Th Basanta Kumar Singh said that “overall security situation in the state is under control”and said  the “state government is taking up confidence building measures” to restore peace.

Meanwhile, 30 persons have been arrested thus far in connection with the violence that wreaked mayhem in Manipur last week.

On the other hand, the death and injured toll in Manipur due to the violence have risen to 68 and 236 respectively.

There were also 1794 cases of arson across Manipur.

  India, Kuki tribe, Manipur, Manipur CM N Biren Singh, Northeast, tribal land rights