A group representing the ethnic group Kuki-Zo in India’s Manipur state hasdeclared “self-rule” in the districts dominated by the community members, *TheHindu* reported. The state is ruled by the ruling party BJP of NarendraModi.
The group, which is called the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), hasannounced that the tribal community would have a separate chief ministerand expelled government officials from the community would be givenresponsibilities.
They were forced out of the state capital Imphal when ethnic violenceerupted in the state on May 3. At least 150 people were killed and 400wounded in the ethnic violence, according to media reporters. Over 60,000were forced from their homes as the army, paramilitary forces, and policestruggled to quell violence.
The group took the step following the “selective justice” by the centralIndian government, ITLF General Secretary Muan Tombing told the Indianmedia outlet on Wednesday.
“We do not care if the Centre doesn’t recognise us. The plan has been underdiscussion for the past one month. The Kuki-Zo people in Tengnoupal,Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts will have self-rule. We have noexpectation from the ‘Meitei Manipur government’,” he said.
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The Union Home Ministry has so far not issued any response on the issue.
The ITLF secretary general alleged that the ethnic group’s people werereferred to as “outsiders” by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament inAugust. He refused to meet the minister in the future. APP/AFP