NEW DELHI: Days after Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh rejected the idea of a separate state for the Kukis, his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga has made his position clear on the matter. More than 6,000 tribals from the violence-hit state have taken shelter in the neighbouring state. The Kuki-Chin people, who live in India, Myanmar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, share ethnic ties with Mizos.
Zoramthanga, president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), said on Friday that Mizoram cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of Manipur. His comment could be a setback for the 10 tribal MLAs from Manipur, who had sent a fresh letter to Union minister Amit Shah reiterating their demand for a separate administration for Kuki-inhabited hill districts in the strife-torn state. Earlier, the Manipur CM had turned down the idea, saying that territorial integrity of Manipur would be protected at any cost.
These legislators, seven of whom from the ruling BJP, had assembled in Aizawl on Thursday and resolved not to engage in any dialogue with the Biren Singh government. Members from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) Zomi Council, Hmar Inpui (HI) and other civil society organisations from Manipur were also present in the meeting.
It is believed these MLAs along with other Kuki groups have renewed the idea of a ‘Greater Mizoram’ or unification of Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur with Mizoram. The proposal was first floated at the peak of Mizo insurgency in the 1960s. There was widespread discontent among the Mizos due to alleged mishandling of the situation by the then-Assam government in the wake of ‘Mautam’ or the great famine. The Mizo Hills were part of Assam until it became a Union Territory in 1972.
Led by Laldenga, the MNF had resorted to an armed struggle with a goal of achieving a sovereign ‘Greater Mizoram’. However, the Mizo insurgency came to an end following a peace accord with the Centre in 1986.
“Unification of ‘Zo’ tribe inhabited areas of Myanmar and Bangladesh would be difficult at this time… The issue of unification of all the inhabited areas of our kindred brothers in neighbouring states [Manipur, Assam and Tripura] was highly featured in the peace talks held with the Indian government and the erstwhile underground MNF,” Zoramthange said addressing a party meeting in Aizawl.
What he basically implied is that the idea of ‘Greater Mizoram’ is not feasible at this juncture as no state would part with its land. Besides, the Centre is unlikely to approve this idea given it has already rejected similar demands like ‘Greater Tipraland’ and ‘Eastern Nagaland’.
Zoramthanga, president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), said on Friday that Mizoram cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of Manipur. His comment could be a setback for the 10 tribal MLAs from Manipur, who had sent a fresh letter to Union minister Amit Shah reiterating their demand for a separate administration for Kuki-inhabited hill districts in the strife-torn state. Earlier, the Manipur CM had turned down the idea, saying that territorial integrity of Manipur would be protected at any cost.
These legislators, seven of whom from the ruling BJP, had assembled in Aizawl on Thursday and resolved not to engage in any dialogue with the Biren Singh government. Members from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) Zomi Council, Hmar Inpui (HI) and other civil society organisations from Manipur were also present in the meeting.
It is believed these MLAs along with other Kuki groups have renewed the idea of a ‘Greater Mizoram’ or unification of Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur with Mizoram. The proposal was first floated at the peak of Mizo insurgency in the 1960s. There was widespread discontent among the Mizos due to alleged mishandling of the situation by the then-Assam government in the wake of ‘Mautam’ or the great famine. The Mizo Hills were part of Assam until it became a Union Territory in 1972.
Led by Laldenga, the MNF had resorted to an armed struggle with a goal of achieving a sovereign ‘Greater Mizoram’. However, the Mizo insurgency came to an end following a peace accord with the Centre in 1986.
“Unification of ‘Zo’ tribe inhabited areas of Myanmar and Bangladesh would be difficult at this time… The issue of unification of all the inhabited areas of our kindred brothers in neighbouring states [Manipur, Assam and Tripura] was highly featured in the peace talks held with the Indian government and the erstwhile underground MNF,” Zoramthange said addressing a party meeting in Aizawl.
What he basically implied is that the idea of ‘Greater Mizoram’ is not feasible at this juncture as no state would part with its land. Besides, the Centre is unlikely to approve this idea given it has already rejected similar demands like ‘Greater Tipraland’ and ‘Eastern Nagaland’.
