To live with Meiteis is as good as dead, say 10 tribal MLAs from Manipur

Demand separate administration for the affected community

DIMAPUR: As many as 10 tribal legislators from Manipur, including five BJP MLAs have demanded the Centre to grant the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi community a separate administration under the Constitution of India, claiming that the unabated violence “perpetrated by majority Meiteis tacitly supported by the existing government of Manipur” on the community “has already partitioned the state and effected a total separation”.

In a joint press statement released days after the clash between the Kuki and Meitei communities killed more than 60 people and damaged hundreds of houses, 10 MLAs from Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi community said that “our people can no longer exist under Manipur”.

“To live amidst the Meiteis again is as good as death for our people,” read the statement.

“Therefore, as elected representatives of our people, we today represent the sentiments of our people and endorse their political aspiration of separation from the state of Manipur. We have also decided to hold a political consultation with our people at the earliest regarding further steps to be taken by us as a people,” it added.

Praying for people of Manipur

Meanwhile, hundreds of people from Nagaland gathered at Supermarket in Dimapur on Friday evening to express their solidarity and pray for the people of Manipur affected by the recent violence that cost dozens of precious lives, scores of church buildings burnt and properties damaged.

The participants were seen holding candles in their hands during the open gathering initiated by Dimapur Baptist Pastors Fellowship (DBPF) under the banner “Together in Unity” to pray for the people of violence-hit Manipur.