Aizawl: Senior Congress leader Mathew Anthony on Saturday said that separate administration will be the right solution to end the ongoing violence in neighbouring Manipur.
The ethnic violence between the majority Meiteis, which dominated the valley, and the minority tribal of the Kuki-Mizo-Hmar-Zomi communities, who occupy the hill areas, which began on May 3 has left a trail of destruction resulting in the death of over 70 people and burning of thousands of houses and worship places.
The ethnic violence has also displaced and rendered thousands of people homeless. “In my personal opinion and not as Congress leader, granting separate administration to the tribal in Manipur is the only solution to end violence and restore peace in the state,” Anthony told a news conference in Aizawl.
He said that a separate administrative mechanism for the tribal people is absolutely his personal view and not the Congress party as a whole to end the violence.
He blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly not paying sincere importance to quell the ethnic violence and restoring normalcy in the neighbouring state.
“Do the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have the time to come and stay in Manipur to make a call for peace when things are going wrong? When they have time for seven days to campaign in Karnataka but they don’t have even a single day to come to Manipur to arrest violence and restore peace,” the Congress leader said.
Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had said that Shah will visit violence-hit Manipur on May 29. Shah would talk with people at different places and listen to their views and opinions to end the ongoing ethnic crisis and deliver justice to all, Rai had also said.
The Kukis in Manipur have been demanding separate administrative mechanism not less than Union Territory (UT) since violence broke out in different parts of the state after a tribal solidarity march on May 3.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
Several Meitei organisations have opposed the demand.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had earlier said that the state would not be separated and appealed to the people to uphold its territorial integrity.
Also Read | EC reviews preparedness for assembly elections in Mizoram