A massive public rally held in Manipur capital Imphal on Friday resolved that the strife-hit state’s territorial integrity “cannot be disturbed at any cost or under any circumstance” while seeking the immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to check influx of illegal immigrants.
Thousands from the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley participated in the nearly 6km rally, organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), a conglomerate of leading Meitei-based civil society organisations who blame influx from Myanmar for the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zos and Meiteis in the BJP-ruled state.
A Cocomi member said the rally saw participation not only from the Meitei community but also from the Naga, Pangals and non-Manipuris.
The rally started from the Thangmeiband Athletic Union (THAU) ground around 9.30am and concluded at the Khuman Lampak around 4pm with a public meeting where the focus was on the Centre’s handling of the situation, implementation of the NRC and the protection of the state’s territorial integrity.
President Droupadi Murmu not referring to the Manipur turmoil in her nearly 52-minute address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday was also flagged by a speaker at the meeting.
Participants were seen holding banners, among others, that said “Down with the divide-and-rule policy of India”.
Besides reflecting the concern and resentment over the ongoing unrest and yearning for peace, the rally also reflected the divide between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities on the ground.
The rally followed the massive rallies held by the Kuki-Zos in five hill districts on Monday, urging the Centre to expedite their demand for a political solution in the form of a Union Territory because they “will no longer be able to live a safe and dignified life in Manipur”.
Meiteis are vehemently opposed to any division of the state, something which Cocomi’s rally conveyed, making the task of the Centre of finding a solution in a strategically located and volatile border state a tough task.
One of the key resolutions of the “Save Manipur Rally” organised by Cocomi was “Manipur’s territorial sanctity cannot be disturbed at any cost or under any circumstance”.
The other “People’s Resolutions” also stated that the “Indian State’s actions and plans to exterminate the indigenous peoples of Manipur must cease immediately’ and that the “Indian State’s communally charged and divisive actions and plans must cease immediately”.
The ongoing strife that started in May last year has left at least 229 dead and over 67,000 displaced from the warning communities.
The resolutions also sought the deportation of the “foreign illegal immigrants which majorly includes the narco-terrorist sections among the Chin-Kukis”, voiced its opposition against “SoO with Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists”, and immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens for deportation of illegal immigrants.
The Kukis of Manipur, the Mizos of Mizoram and the Chins of Myanmar share the same ethnic ties.
Meitei organisations blame influx from Myanmar for the ongoing turmoil.
A resolution was also against seizure of arms from village volunteers and also combing operations “until the war is over” while another urged the people’s representatives like MLAs and MPs to come out and join the people “in order to save Manipur”.
The rally came a day after state BJP chief A. Sharda Devi met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the prevailing situation and chief minister N. Biren Singh met the MLAs of the BJP-led ruling alliance to “deliberate” on the current situation.
