Mega Mass rally held in Thoubal dist; demands govt to enforce NRC in Manipur

Imphal, May 20: A mega mass rally joined by thousands of Meitei/Meiteis in Imphal valley was held on Saturday at Thoubal Haokha along NH-102 against illegal immigrants in Manipur and immediate implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The mass rally was carried out despite the chief ministers appeal to the public to stop carrying out any rallies and sit-ins and circulating any slogans and pamphlets that could hurt the sentiments of both the communities on May 15, 2023. N Biren was answering to questions about the 10 tribal MLAs demanding Separate Administration from Manipur State in a press briefing held at Chief Minister’s Secretariat. N Biren had said there is no threat or any changes to the integrity of Manipur.

Must read | No threat or any changes to the integrity of Manipur: N Biren Singh

Convenor Yaiphaba Sapam of the Coordinating Committee of Clubs and Meira Paibis of South Eastern Manipur while speaking to media alleged that the illegal immigrants had been planning the attack [ethnic violence] for 40 years. Yaibhaba also alleged that the prevailing communal clash was instigated by illegal immigrants.

Among the placards, ‘No Homeland to Kukis in Manipur’, ‘Don’t break the territorial integrity of Manipur’, ‘Implement NRC in Manipur’ were chanted.

In some parts of Imphal valley, banner saying ‘No separate administration at any cost; Go back Chin Kuki separatist foreigners’ were seen hung.

Must read | Manipur top cop P Doungel dismisses 10 Kuki MLAs claims about State police

A memorandum to Prime Minister Narandra Modi, Union Home Minister Amith Shah, Manipur Governor and Chief Minister N Biren Singh was submitted to Thoubal DC calling for abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants. It also demanded deportation of illegal immigrants from Manipur.

Related | Manipur: Center extends SoO agreement with Kuki militants for 12 months

The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), two umbrella groups of Kuki militants, had signed a tripartite SoO agreement with the governments of India and Manipur on August 22, 2008. Since then, the government has been extending the agreement after its expiration. The SoO agreement with the UG groups was again extended this year with effect from March 1, 2023 till February 29, 2024.

However, it is interesting to note that the Manipur government, well before the ethnic violence of May 2023 unilaterally pulled out from the tripartite SoO agreement in March 2023.

Must read | Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge constitutes Fact-Finding team on Manipur violence