IT News
Imphal, Aug 28:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has called for public support in addressing concerns over the inclusion of a so-called ‘Chin State of Manipur’ in the North East Council’s (NEC) draft Vision Documents, as well as the renaming of certain areas in favor of the Kuki community. Speaking to the media, COCOMI Coordinator Th. Somorendro announced that the planned agitation against these issues has been temporarily suspended after the Chief Minister’s office demanded an inquiry into the matter to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
Somorendro emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns, highlighting several key issues that have alarmed the public. COCOMI has taken a strong stance against the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants, particularly objecting to any such agreements involving foreign militants operating within Manipur. “We know the history of these 25 Kuki militant groups involved in SoO. The state government has mentioned that the central government is in discussions, but we object to any such agreements,” Somorendro stated.
The organization also raised alarms over the inclusion of ‘Chin State’ in Manipur within the NEC’s Vision 2047 document and the renaming of Imphal Airport to include ‘Lamka.’ Somorendro pointed out that many Meitei villages have been renamed as Kuki, which has sparked concerns among the local population. “We had already demanded that the Chief Minister address the Chin State issue, and while the CM has referred the matter to the Centre, we have postponed our movement for now. However, we insist on an inquiry into other renaming and related issues,” he added.
COCOMI expressed suspicions that these developments might be part of a broader strategy by the Indian government, suggesting that the government does not regard the Manipuri people as equal citizens. Somorendro questioned why the Indian government has not acted on the Manipur state assembly’s resolution to abrogate the SoO agreement, despite the fact that the same party governs both the Centre and the state.
The organization urged the public to remain vigilant and continue applying pressure to ensure that their demands are met. COCOMI’s call for a positive response from the people reflects the organization’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Manipur’s territorial integrity and cultural identity amidst growing concerns over external influences.
