Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Tuesday that an all-tribe committee will be constituted to deliberate whether the Chin Kuki community should be removed from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list of the state. This decision follows a letter from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs seeking the state government’s perspective on the demand for the exclusion of the nomadic Chin Kuki community from Manipur’s ST list.
The demand was initially raised by Maheshwar Thounaojam, National Secretary of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), who argued that the Chin Kuki community members are not indigenous to India but immigrants, news agency PTI reported. He emphasised the need to re-examine the criteria under which they were included in Manipur’s ST list.
According to PTI, Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated, “Before making a comment, we have to form a committee consisting of all tribes (of the state).” Singh further added that the state government would provide its view on the matter based on the recommendations of the panel.
Kuki is a collective term for various tribes in Manipur, and Chin is one among them. The Chin community shares ethnic ties with the Mizos of Mizoram and a section of the residents of neighbouring Myanmar.
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Eastern Army Commander Meets Manipur CM, Governor
Meanwhile, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen RC Tiwari met Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor Anusiya Uikey to discuss matters related to the strife-torn state. Lt Gen Tiwari, who assumed the charge of the Eastern Army Command, engaged in discussions with the chief minister about issues pertinent to Manipur.
Sharing his thoughts on the meeting, Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on social media, “Lt Gen RC Tiwari, General Officer Commanding-in-chief, HQ Eastern Command called on me at my Secretariat. Discussed matters pertaining to Manipur. Looking forward to continued collaboration for the well being and security of our state.”
Lt Gen Tiwari also met with Governor Anusiya Uikey at the Raj Bhavan, where they deliberated on the prevailing law and order situation in the state, PTI reported. The governor congratulated Lt Gen Tiwari on assuming the charge of the Eastern Army Command and offered her views and suggestions for restoring normalcy in Manipur.
Manipir Ethnic Violence
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence since May of the previous year, resulting in over 180 fatalities. The unrest began on May 3 following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis constitute approximately 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, make up 40 per cent and predominantly inhabit the hill districts.
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