Dimapur, July 16 (MExN): The Kuki National Organization (KNO) today came out strongly against the Manipur Government and said that communalism against the Kuki people in the state has reached its zenith and put the blame squarely on the Manipuri government and its functionaries.
A press release received here from the Kuki National Organization’s “under secretary” of Information and Publicity, Stephen Kuki, while making this allegation against the Manipur government, said that Seikhojang Haokip, “chief of army ataff and secretary-finance” of KNO was arrested by the Manipur Police commandos at Tulihal Airport, Imphal, on 14 July.
Stephen said that the arrested KNO official was on his way to Delhi to work out details of resolving the Kuki people’s political aspirations through dialogue with the Government of India.
However, in connection with the arrest of Seikhojang Haokip, Stephen alleged that the Manipur Government is being apathetic to KNO’s legitimate process to resolve the Kuki issue within the framework of the Indian Constitution and added that the central government’s hands appear to be tied on the same legal bind of law and order being a state subject, Stephen stated.
Stephen alleged that the centre and the state government and the centre is unable to exercise authority to appreciate KNO’s basis of seeking solution in an amicable context and therefore activate appropriate measures to secure the prompt release of Seikhojang Haokip before any damage was done.
However, Stephen strongly lamented that much damage was done as the KNO’s “chief of armed staff” was severely tortured physically and humiliated by the Manipur Police.
“They have not demonstrated an iota of respect to a senior an eminent Kuki revolutionary leader. Why does this sort of discrimination prevail in Manipur?” said Stephen.
“This clearly shows that the Kuki people are deeply disadvantaged by the status quo” said Stephen and added that the confidence of KNO at the centre and state governments has further eroded.
Stephen alleged that in sharp contrast to the treatment meted out to the Kuki outfit activist, every existing and relevant rule was manipulated so as to ensure that no physical harm was meted out to arrested Meitei activist by the Manipuri police.
“Not a single strand of hair of either of the two UNLF members apprehended was ruffled by the Manipur Police while in their custody,” Stephen strongly decried.
In this connection, Stephen summed up his words and said that the Kuki people victims of communalism simply because of the Manipur Government. “Communalism against the Kuki people in the existing state of Manipur has reached its zenith. It is a point reached, thanks to the government and its various functionaries, particularly the Manipur Police.”
Stephen said that any trace of physical and territorial integrity of the state of the so-called Manipur has been thoroughly stripped by the sheer lack of exercise in fairness and promoting emotional integrity as is evident by the alleged unfair and inhuman treatment meted out to Seikhojang Haokip, CAS of KNO, unlike the treatment meted out to other arrested Meitei dissenters.
“The biased treatment of KNO’s CAS by the Manipur Police and the inaction of the state government to immediately have him (Seikhojang Haokip) released highlight the inherent communal condition prevalent in the state of Manipur,” said Stephen and added that it convinces the Kukis more to expedite realisation of Zale’n-gam (freedom land) where the Kuki people may experience true and fair justice, live in peace and harmony and without any opportunity of being treated in a biased manner by other peoples ever again.
In this regard, Stephen said that the KNO is keeping constant vigil of each and every development concerning the manner of how Seikhojang Haokip is being handled by Manipur Police and the state government.
“Manipur may exist today as a political entity in the map of India, but the spirit that at one time bound the diverse peoples is positively dead” said Stephen.
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