Tensions in Manipur reach new heights with ITLF vowing that no Kuki legislator will feature in the state cabinet or back the government externally. This exclusionary tactic highlights the chasm separating tribal communities from Imphal’s corridors of power.
The union’s statement arrives against a backdrop of mayhem: ethnic riots claiming 220 lives, razing churches and homes across districts. Kuki-Zo groups charge the Biren Singh regime with engineering the pogrom through proxy militias like Arambai Tenggol.
Elected on a saffron wave, BJP’s assembly strength hinges on fragile alliances. With Kuki MLAs—numbering around 10—opting out, cabinet expansion faces hurdles. The Chief Minister’s outreach efforts, including peace committees, have faltered, dismissed as ‘Meitei-centric’ by tribals.
Delving into root causes, Meitei push for ST quota sparked Kuki fears of land encroachment in protected hills. Poppy cultivation bans added fuel, hitting tribal economies hard. Militant outfits like Zomi Revolutionary Army have resurfaced, complicating disarmament.
ITLF’s blueprint demands constitutional safeguards: a separate Hill State Council with legislative powers. They reject tripartite talks unless preconditions like officer suspensions are met. Meanwhile, relief camps house 50,000 displaced Kukis, reliant on church aid amid government distrust.
National implications loom large, testing BJP’s Northeast strategy. Allies like NPP and NPF urge dialogue, but hardline stances prevail. As winter approaches, fears mount of renewed violence, prompting calls for UN human rights monitoring. Manipur’s tricolor unity frays, demanding urgent federal healing.