UKHRUL: In a major development in Manipur politics, deputy chief minister and Naga legislator Losii Dikho has said that the nine Naga MLAs could withdraw support from the Khemchand Singh-led government if the prevailing situation in the state continues.
In an interview with ThePrint, Dikho said he and deputy chief minister from the Kuki community, Nemcha Kipgen had been entrusted with the responsibility of reaching out to the conflicting communities and working towards peace.
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Dikho said he had held dialogues with members of both communities as part of efforts to ease tensions. However, he alleged that Nemcha Kipgen had not undertaken similar initiatives and had neither reached out to the Naga community nor condemned the killings.
He further alleged that the organisation associated with Nemcha Kipgen’s husband was responsible for the conflict. Dikho said the Naga legislators could not remain part of a government if individuals associated with such a “mentality” continued to be involved in the administration.
Regarding the factors behind the ongoing conflict, Dikho attributed it to issues such as land disputes and illegal immigration. He said tensions between Nagas and Kukis escalated after a Kuki youth allegedly assaulted a Tangkhul Naga at Litan.
Dikho said the Naga community had made its position clear that it did not want another conflict with the Kukis, recalling the previous Naga-Kuki clashes. He said the Nagas had maintained neutrality during the Meitei-Kuki conflict and subsequently joined the government to contribute to peace.
He acknowledged that some Kuki leaders did not want violence but alleged that certain elements were continuing to fuel the conflict.
Dikho also reiterated the Naga legislators’ demand for the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, alleging that the ground rules under the agreement were not being followed.
On the delay in expanding the state Cabinet, Dikho said he had already informed chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh about the matter, but the CM was waiting for a “signal”. He said the situation could have been different had responsibilities within the government been shared through a Cabinet expansion.
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Further, Dikho warned that if the prevailing situation continued, holding elections would be impossible or extremely difficult. He also suggested that the Central government had halted elections to find a legal and political solution to the conflict, saying it was fully aware of the factors contributing to the crisis.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in Manipur and growing demands from Naga legislators for stronger government intervention and measures to restore peace in the state.
