Kuki-Zo Organisations Condemn BJP's Deputy CM Appointment in Manipur
Prominent Kuki-Zo organisations in Manipur have issued a sharp rebuke to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following its decision to appoint Nemcha Kipgen as the deputy chief minister of the newly formed state government. The move, announced on Wednesday, has been met with fierce opposition from community leaders who argue that it directly "undermines" their longstanding campaign for a separate homeland with Union territory status.
Defiance of Collective Mandate
The influential Kuki Zo Council (KZC) released a statement asserting that Kipgen's inclusion in the government represents what it termed a "defiance of a collective mandate." This mandate, established during a crucial meeting, explicitly stated that no Kuki-Zo representative should participate in governance until the central government formally acknowledges the community's demand for administrative separation from the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley.
"KZC further clarifies that any Kuki-Zo MLA who chooses to disregard the collective decision taken at the Lungthu meeting will be doing so in their individual capacity, and KZC shall not be held accountable for the consequences arising from such unilateral decisions," the council emphasised in its strongly worded declaration.
The Lungthu Meeting Resolution
A pivotal resolution was adopted at the "Lungthu meeting" held in Guwahati on January 13. This gathering brought together the KZC, several armed outfits currently in a ceasefire agreement with the government, and Kuki-Zo MLAs. The resolution clearly stipulates that the community's participation in any government would be conditional upon receiving an unambiguous written commitment from both the state and Union governments to create a separate administration equipped with its own legislature.
The KZC elaborated on the rationale behind this firm stance, stating, "The Kuki-Zo people have been forcibly and physically separated by the Meiteis, and therefore have legitimately demanded a separate administration from the Meitei government... Under these circumstances, it is neither logical nor acceptable for the Kuki-Zo people to join a government formed with those from whom we have been violently separated."
Call to Legislators and Historical Context
The council has issued a direct appeal to all ten Kuki-Zo legislators in the state assembly, urging them to "respect the collective will, sentiments and aspirations" of their people. These legislators comprise seven from the BJP, two from the Kuki People's Alliance, and one Independent member.
This development is deeply rooted in the tragic ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. In the aftermath of that conflict, these very MLAs had collectively written to the Union government, formally requesting the creation of a separate administration for the Kuki-dominant hill districts of the state. The current appointment is seen by many within the community as a significant setback to those efforts and a departure from the unified position previously held by their elected representatives.
