The Manipur Government has issued a strong rebuttal to a press statement dated 28 November 2024, released by the Mizo National Front (MNF), in which the latter called for the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The statement, attributed to VL Krosehnehzova, General Secretary of the MNF’s Media and Publicity Department, was criticised for alleged interference in Manipur’s internal affairs and for what the Manipur Government described as baseless allegations.
The Manipur Government accused the MNF, a Mizoram-based political party, of perpetuating an anti-national agenda by opposing border fencing initiatives aimed at curbing illegal immigration, arms trafficking, and drug smuggling from neighbouring Myanmar. “The MNF’s position undermines national security and contradicts efforts to address challenges posed by illegal immigration and narco-terrorism,” read the statement.
The Manipur Government attributed the ongoing crisis in the state to illegal immigrants from Myanmar, many of whom, it claimed, were involved in illicit poppy cultivation. “The MNF’s narrative that blames the crisis on religious policies of the state government is both misleading and fabricated,” the statement asserted, pointing to evidence of narco-terrorist funding on one side of the ethnic conflict.
Citing discrepancies in village growth statistics, the Manipur Government highlighted the mushrooming of villages in Kuki-dominated districts such as Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, with a 122% increase between 1969 and the present, compared to a mere 9% in Naga-dominated districts. The government urged the MNF to examine these irregularities rather than mischaracterising Manipur’s policies.
The statement drew parallels between Manipur’s and Mizoram’s measures to regulate illegal immigration. While Mizoram enforces strict restrictions on land ownership and business operations by foreign nationals, the MNF’s opposition to similar measures in Manipur was termed inconsistent.
Additionally, the government refuted accusations of discrimination in the implementation of the Manipur People’s Bill, which uses a 1951 cut-off year to define Indigenous residents. The government pointed out that Mizoram employs a similar cut-off year of 1950 under its Inner Line Permit system.
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The Manipur Government underscored its commitment to restoring normalcy, including providing aid to over 60,000 people in relief camps and conducting combing operations to recover looted arms. It mentioned ongoing investigations supervised by central agencies such as the CBI and NIA, as well as a Commission of Inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
Notable peace initiatives include dialogues with various tribal communities, including the Thadou and Hmar tribes, to address ethnic tensions. “The willingness of multiple communities to end the crisis reflects hope for reconciliation,” the statement noted.
The government concluded by warning against alleged plans to create a Kuki-Chin nation spanning parts of Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh. It vowed to resist any attempts to fragment Northeast India and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the state’s territorial integrity.
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