10 Kuki MLAs to boycott upcoming Assembly session

Due to security reasons, 10 tribal MLAs, who have been demanding a separate administration for Kukis in Manipur, will boycott the State Assembly session scheduled to begin from August 21.
Spokesman of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), Ginza Vualzong said that Kuki Ministers, MLAs, as well as the public, are scared of visiting the Meitei-dominated State capital of Imphal.
“None of the Ministers, MLAs and leaders belonging to the Kuki and Zomi communities are willing to visit Imphal due to the security reasons. Hence they will boycott the session,” Vualzong told IANS over the phone.
The crucial upcoming session, called after the demands of various quarters, including the Opposition Congress, is likely to discuss the ethnic violence which broke out on May 3 and has so far killed over 160 people, injured more than 600 others, and destroyed a massive number of properties, including thousands of houses.
The ITLF, boycotting of the Assembly session is also in solidarity with the killings and attacks on the Kukis.
Since May 12, the 10 MLAs, including seven from the State’s ruling BJP, have been demanding a separate administration for the Kukis.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, BJP, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), and many other organisations strongly opposed the separate administration demand.
“Even members of the state Assembly were not spared. MLA Vungzagin Valte and his driver were waylaid while he was returning from a meeting from the Chief Minister’s bungalow in May. His driver was beaten to death, and the MLA was tortured and beaten and left for dead. The MLA, however, was rescued by the Security Forces and was rushed to New Delhi, where he is slowly recovering, but left incapacitated both physically and mentally,” the memorandum said.
It said that the houses of two other Cabinet Ministers, Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen, were burnt to ashes during the riot.
The MLAs further claimed that even the IAS and IPS officers belonging to the Kuki- Zomi tribes have been unable to function and discharge their duties.
Meanwhile, 40 MLAs of the ruling Manipur coalition had also signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister demanded complete disarmament, withdrawal of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with surrendered militant groups, and withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from the state.
Strongly opposing the separate administration demand, they alleged that the Assam Rifles was biased and they have been sheltering militants, and also using excessive force in dealing with Meitei women protesters.  IANS