UKHRUL: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, in an interview with Deccan Herald, has responded to allegations made by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho that she and her husband, Thangboi Kipgen, were fuelling the ongoing conflict between the Kuki and Naga communities.
Dikho, a member of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), which is allied with the ruling BJP in Manipur, along with nine other Naga legislators of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, seeking his immediate intervention in the prevailing situation in the state.
The legislators demanded action against Kipgen, alleging that her office was colluding with the Kuki militant group Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P), which they alleged was led by her husband. They also sought Thangboi Kipgen’s immediate arrest, alleging that KNF-P cadres, led by a person they identified as “Gen Tiger Kipgen”, were responsible for the killing and mutilation of six Naga men.
Speaking to The Hindu, Dikho had also accused Kipgen of not participating in the state government’s reconciliation efforts following the restoration of the elected government.
“We were given the responsibility of restoring peace after the popular government was reinstated. While efforts were being made to reach out to all communities, she did not engage with the affected people or play a role in reducing tensions. She refused to take calls after the Nagas were abducted [on May 13] and instead switched off her phone,” Dikho said.
Responding to the allegations, Kipgen termed them “completely false, vexatious and baseless without any supporting evidence”. She also said that, as a Deputy Chief Minister, Dikho should “refrain from making such baseless allegations which can create disharmony between the two communities.”
Kipgen pointed to her interventions during instances of heightened tensions between the two communities, saying she had appealed for the safe release of 21 Naga detainees in Litan on February 11, following the killing of two Kuki civilians near Litan-Sareikhong.
She also recalled making a personal appeal to civil society organisations (CSOs), which she said contributed to the release of 18 Naga detainees on May 15, following the ambush that claimed the lives of three Kuki church leaders.
On the allegations of collusion with armed groups, Kipgen said she rejected what she described as speculative and accusatory claims.
“Regarding the accusations of collusion, I deny all speculative or accusatory exchanges. Such rhetoric only deepens mistrust. Matters relating to armed groups fall under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework, which has its own monitoring mechanism. I fully respect the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs to address the issues appropriately,” she told Deccan Herald.
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Addressing the allegation that she had not participated in reconciliation efforts, Kipgen said peacebuilding should not be judged solely through public appearances.
“Peacebuilding cannot be measured solely through public visits. My focus has been on concrete actions, consistently urging CSOs and youth within my community to exercise restraint and allow the law to take its course,” she said.
Kipgen further claimed that she had initiated efforts to open a dialogue with Naga CSOs through Dikho, but that the attempts did not materialise.
“The absence of structured engagement between CSOs has unfortunately contributed to tragic outcomes, including loss of life and destruction of property,” she said.
