MIYC calls for free and fair elections

IMPHAL, Apr 7 : Without naming anyone in particular, the Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has said that no political parties or candidates of the ensuing Lok Sabha election should take the help of Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) to intimidate voters or engage in power politics.
MIYC, in a statement, said that meira paibi lups, clubs and organisations shouldn't be engaged in the dirty politics of India.
Appealing to all the people to be cautious  of the narrow political move to create division among the people at a time unity among the people is needed, the youth centre claimed that some politicians have been using the SoO signatory Kuki militant groups to engage in power politics.
In some areas of Manipur there is no election but selection and the elected representatives openly demand bifurcation of Manipur and support the cadres of SoO groups, MIYC claimed and added these elected representatives are being controlled and commanded by militant groups.
People from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been enlisted in the voter's list by these representatives, it said and Churachandpur which has 1,82,732 voters has the highest number of illegal immigrants in Manipur.
The MIYC also said that 80 per cent of the voters in Jiribam are illegal  immigrants.
Claiming that some illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar  get the benefit given to the people in ST category, the youth centre maintained that militant groups under SoO and some politicians have a hand in bringing illegal immigrants to Manipur and in enlisting them in the ST list.
The youth centre went on to claim that the population of Kuki Zo-people increased from 16 per cent of the State population in  2011 to 33 per cent  in 2021.
Saying that CSOs and womenfolk have been playing an active role in safeguarding the State and fighting against the oppression by India among others, the MIYC continued that the legacy of meira paibis seems to have  been overwhelmed by the dirty power politics of contemporary India.  
Stating that the womenfolk should never flock to the residences of political leaders to take money no matter the hardship they have been enduring, the MIYC asked all the people, especially mothers  to remember that thousands of people are still at relief camps.