The Crossbill News Desk
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has called for the reimposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, saying the state government has failed to ensure security and that the Union government’s decision to defer the census was taken without consulting the Kuki-Zo community, news agency PTI reported.
The demand came on Tuesday (September 1), after census operations scheduled to begin in the state were deferred amid protests and demands from several Meitei and Naga organisations for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise to precede the census.
The KZC alleged that the decision to postpone the census was taken after a high-level meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The meeting, it said, considered the “No Census Before NRC” demand raised by 14 civil society organisations representing Meitei and Naga communities.
“Not a single Kuki-Zo organisation was part of this demand. Yet, the decision was justified in the name of the feelings and aspirations of the people of Manipur,” said the council in a statement.
The organisation also questioned the Centre’s decision to defer the exercise, arguing that the concerns of the Kuki-Zo community had been disregarded. It said it had expected the change of government in the state to bring greater security and normalcy, but attacks and killings had continued.
“Our people felt safer under President’s Rule than under the present state government. If the state government cannot protect its citizens, the centre must act,” the statement added.
The census postponement followed protests and calls for an NRC to be conducted first. Meitei groups and a section of the Naga community have backed the demand, with many Meiteis alleging that a significant number of Kuki-Zo residents are undocumented immigrants from Myanmar.
The development comes as Manipur continues to grapple with prolonged ethnic violence. Conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities has continued since May 2023, while tensions between Kuki and Naga groups have also escalated since February this year.
The continuing violence has displaced tens of thousands of people. Data obtained through an RTI showed that more than 43,000 displaced people were living in relief camps as of April, underscoring the continuing humanitarian crisis in the state.
The demand came on Tuesday (September 1), after census operations scheduled to begin in the state were deferred amid protests and demands from several Meitei and Naga organisations for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise to precede the census.
The KZC alleged that the decision to postpone the census was taken after a high-level meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The meeting, it said, considered the “No Census Before NRC” demand raised by 14 civil society organisations representing Meitei and Naga communities.
“Not a single Kuki-Zo organisation was part of this demand. Yet, the decision was justified in the name of the feelings and aspirations of the people of Manipur,” said the council in a statement.
The organisation also questioned the Centre’s decision to defer the exercise, arguing that the concerns of the Kuki-Zo community had been disregarded. It said it had expected the change of government in the state to bring greater security and normalcy, but attacks and killings had continued.
“Our people felt safer under President’s Rule than under the present state government. If the state government cannot protect its citizens, the centre must act,” the statement added.
The census postponement followed protests and calls for an NRC to be conducted first. Meitei groups and a section of the Naga community have backed the demand, with many Meiteis alleging that a significant number of Kuki-Zo residents are undocumented immigrants from Myanmar.
The development comes as Manipur continues to grapple with prolonged ethnic violence. Conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities has continued since May 2023, while tensions between Kuki and Naga groups have also escalated since February this year.
The continuing violence has displaced tens of thousands of people. Data obtained through an RTI showed that more than 43,000 displaced people were living in relief camps as of April, underscoring the continuing humanitarian crisis in the state.
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