Kuki chiefs oppose Panchayat polls in hill villages

KANGPOKPI, Jun 27
 The Kuki Chiefs' Council (KCC), Manipur has raised a strong objection to the alleged Government's policy to snatch away tribal land by conducting Gram Panchayat election and inclusion of tribal villages in the valley districts.
The KCC Manipur general secretary Lunjapao Simte said that the notification issued by the Government on June 22 is a valley-centric, anti-tribal policy that deeply hurts the sentiments of tribals.
He said, according to the notification, four Gram Panchayats listed at Sl. No.25 Koubru Laikha, 26. Toribari, 27. Kalapahar and 28. Santolabari Parasain villages which are located in the heart of Kangpokpi district have been brought under Imphal West-I CD Block.
He continued that two tribal villages, namely, Saiton (Seitol), and Ngairong village in Churachandpur district along with eight Meitei and Bengali localities of Torbung-Kangvai areas are included under Kumbi Assembly Constituency and merged into Bishnupur district.
"If such arrangements are made for Gram Panchayat elections on ethnic basis, will the State Government also arrange another policy for merging tribal localities of Imphal East and Imphal West district in the neighbouring hill districts such as Chandel, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, etc. on ethnic line?", he asked.
Strongly condemning the Government policy of conducting Gram Panchayat elections by including several hill district villages in the valley, the Kuki Chiefs' Council Manipur warned that it will steadfastly fight any policy to snatch away tribal land.