Imphal: The Meitei Alliance has strongly condemned ten MLAs from Manipur, representing a faction of the Kuki and related communities, for their recent accusations against India’s Home Ministry. On August 2, 2024, these MLAs sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging a “sinister design” and an “ethnic cleansing campaign” against their communities, purportedly orchestrated by the Home Minister.
Also read | Kuki Inpi Urges PM Modi to Reconsider Assam Rifles Replacement in Manipur
The MLAs’ letter challenges the Home Ministry’s authority in internal security matters, particularly criticizing the relocation of two Assam Rifles battalions from Manipur for counter-insurgency operations. This decision, according to the Meitei Alliance, was made by military planners to best serve India’s internal security interests. The Kuki MLAs, however, accused the Home Ministry of acting under pressure from the Manipur government, a claim the Meitei Alliance deems defamatory and misleading.
The Meitei Alliance expressed disbelief and outrage over the allegations, questioning how responsible legislators could suggest that the Government of India would manipulate security force deployments to enable genocide. They highlighted that the Assam Rifles battalions are to be replaced by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and criticized the MLAs for implying that the CRPF would act with a sectarian agenda.
Also read | Headmen of 36 Villages Denounce Statements of Meitei Leepun and My Manipur
In their statement, the Meitei Alliance described the accusations as defamatory, anti-national, and derogatory, asserting that they are intended to malign India’s security establishment. The Alliance accused the ten MLAs of long-standing deceit and incitement within their communities and condemned their recent actions as acts of desperation.
Additionally, the Meitei Alliance acknowledged recent peace efforts in Manipur, particularly the Cachar agreement between the Meitei and Hmar communities in Jiribam district. However, they lamented that this agreement was marred by arson attacks on Meitei houses. The Alliance called on the ten Kuki MLAs to refrain from spreading falsehoods and to support efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the state.
Read more | Landslide in Jiribam District Claims Life of 8-Year-Old Girl