Kuki-Zo MLAs Make Urgent Appeal to PM Modi: Demand Separate Union Territory Amidst Manipur Crisis

In a direct and impassioned plea, ten Kuki-Zo Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Manipur have formally submitted a crucial memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating their urgent demand for a separate Union Territory for their community. The move underscores the escalating ethnic tensions and the profound sense of alienation felt by the Kuki-Zo people in the strife-torn state, arguing that co-existence with the Meitei community has become an impossibility.

The memorandum, delivered to the Prime Minister's Office, highlights the dire security situation and the complete breakdown of law and order in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

It emphasizes that the ongoing ethnic violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, has created an irreversible chasm between the two communities, rendering any hope for a unified administration or peaceful cohabitation futile. The MLAs' collective voice represents the deep-seated fear and suffering experienced by their people, who have faced displacement, loss of life, and destruction of property.

Central to their argument is the assertion that the current state administration, led by Chief Minister N.

Biren Singh, has failed to protect the Kuki-Zo community and, in many instances, has been perceived as partisan. This alleged failure has eroded trust to such an extent that the MLAs contend only a separate administrative entity can guarantee the safety, rights, and future of the Kuki-Zo people. They point to the geographical and demographic distinctiveness of their ancestral lands, which they believe should form the basis of this proposed Union Territory.

The Kuki-Zo MLAs have been vocal since the beginning of the crisis, initially demanding a separate administration and now specifically calling for a Union Territory, a clear escalation of their demands.

This persistent advocacy reflects the gravity of the situation on the ground, where incidents of violence, arson, and armed confrontations continue to plague the region despite extensive deployment of central forces. The memorandum serves as a critical call to the highest authority in the country, seeking decisive intervention to address what they describe as an existential threat to their community.

By directly appealing to the Prime Minister, the Kuki-Zo leaders hope to bypass what they view as an unresponsive state government and secure a lasting solution through federal intervention.

Their demand for a separate Union Territory is not merely an administrative reshuffle but a desperate cry for autonomy and security, born out of months of relentless ethnic strife and a profound loss of faith in existing governance structures. The ball is now firmly in the Centre's court, as the Kuki-Zo community awaits a response that could potentially reshape the administrative map and future of Manipur.