UKHRUL: Amid the boycott call and total shutdown by CorCom against the two-day visit of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to Manipur, the World Meetei Council (WMC) stated that it welcomes the President’s visit to the state.
Taking note of the recent public statements made by certain Kuki-Zo organisations portraying the Meetei community as “anti-national” or “separatist” to impress the Government of India against the Meetei, the WMC reiterated that any attempt to break the territorial integrity of Manipur will not be accepted.
“We acknowledge the suffering of displaced Kuki-Zo families – just as more than 60,000 displaced Meetei and Kuki-Zo citizens continue to endure immense hardship. The pain on both sides is real and undeniable. This prolonged displacement is precisely why public leaders – MPs, MLAs, CSOs, and WMC – have repeatedly urged the Government of India to take decisive steps to control armed Kuki-Zo elements operating openly in the region under the nose of the army,” the WMC stated.
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“Only then can all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return to their homes safely, and highways be accessible to all communities without fear,” it added.
The WMC maintained that holding their own people in prolonged uncertainty for political objectives – such as the pursuit of a so-called “Kukiland” – is a dangerous and self-defeating strategy and reiterated that any attempt to break Manipur or create a new political entity at the cost of its territorial integrity will never be accepted by the indigenous peoples of the state.
“Who is preventing the IDPs from returning to their homes and who is threatening travelers on the highways? The evidence on the ground clearly points to armed Kuki-Zo groups. Instead of questioning others, the Kuki-Zo leadership must examine why displaced Kuki-Zo families themselves are not being allowed to return home,” the WMC claimed.
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The WMC further urged the Kuki-Zo leadership to rethink their current approach, stating that the demand for a separate Union Territory carved out of Manipur is unacceptable to all indigenous communities, and pursuing it through violence or misinformation will not succeed.
It called upon the Kuki-Zo leaders not to play the victim card.
“Come forward with clarity and sincerity. WMC stands ready – at any time – to facilitate a constructive dialogue, as we have already conveyed through our official communications on X (formerly Twitter). This offer for dialogue stems not from weakness, but from a desire to provide a dignified and honourable path forward for all stakeholders,” it stated.
The WMC added that it remains committed to safeguarding Manipur’s unity, restoring peace, and ensuring a just and secure future for every community of the state.
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