Ukhrul, Dec 20: The Kuki-Zo Council has issued a rebuttal to the government’s questioning of its origin and authenticity and denounced the N Biren Singh government’s attempts to suppress the voices of the Kuki-Zo people.
The press statement issued by the Council stated that it took note of certain quarters especially the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) questioning its origin and authenticity thereby challenging its existence and denouncing its activities.
The Council initially considered the DIPR’s press release to be fake, as it lacked the signature and designation of the responsible officer. Still, as the press release had already been circulated in the media, the Council found it necessary to set the record straight.
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Setting the record straight, the press statement informed that the Council serves as the highest decision-making body for the Kuki-Zo kindred tribes, and includes all tribe presidents and additional members from each district frontal organization as its members. It added that the body acts as a common political platform for addressing shared political concerns and advocating for the community’s collective interest while promoting unity, upholding traditional values, and ensuring the progress and well-being of the community.
Speaking of its authenticity, the Council stated that it was established after months of deliberations on October 11, 2024, in Lamka, and the first historic General Body Meeting was held on 8th December 2024 at S. Molnom village, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi. The Council added that its headquarters is in Lamka and that whether Lamka is a district or not is irrelevant. “If the Meiteis can rename the valleys of Manipur as ‘Kangleipak,’ what objection can there be to the name of ‘Lamka’,” it retorted.
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Denouncing the government’s statement, the Council stated that it was not surprising that the communal, Meitei-led Manipur Government conducted a flawed and biased investigation into the Council and hastily concluded that “no such organization (KZC) exists in the state of Manipur.”
Furthermore, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) condemned the dictatorial governance of N. Biren Singh’s Meitei-led Manipur Government. It also termed the government’s appeal to the media to refrain from publicizing its press releases as an attempt to suppress the voice of the Kuki-Zo people. “Such actions are unbecoming of a democratically established state as they suppress the voices of the people and attempt to control the media which is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy,” it added.
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