Kangpokpi, Aug.9:The Kukis from across Manipur congregate this morning at Kangpokpi DHQs and held rally in support of the Indo- Kuki Political Talks prior to the scheduled third round of Tripartite Talks today at the National Capital involving the UPF-KNO, representing the Kukis and Government of India and Government of Manipur. The support rally was jointly organized by various Kuki civil society organizations spearheaded by Kuki Women Union to exhibit their sincere endorsement and support towards the UPF and KNO who represented the 23 cognate tribes of the Kukis in the Indo-Kuki Political Talks. The rallyist mostly men and women in good numbers gathered at Brig. Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi DHQs at around 7:30 am in the morning and after a minutes speeches and deliberation marched towards Kangpokpi Bazar via the Trans Asian Highway No.1. They hold several giant banner and pamphlets written words of support and demand like, “We Support Indo-Kuki Political talks”, “We endorse UPF & KNO”, “Expedite Indo- Kuki Political Talks”, Statehood, the long cherished dream of the Kukis”, “Kuki National Assembly’s memorandum to the PM, 1964- Statehood for the Kukis, Haipi Declaration of the Kukis, 2015- Statehood for the Kukis, UPF&KNO today-Statehood for the Kukis”, “Why not Statehood for the Kukis”, etc. Traffic flow along the Trans Asian Highway No.1 was disrupted for few minutes during the support rally and a simple ceremony held at the traffic point of the District HQs main market. Addressing the congregated, Seikhomang Khongsai, President, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District enthused the general public saying that the third round of Tripartite Indo-Kuki Political Talks to discussed the long cherished demand of the Kukis will be held shortly today in few hours at the National Capital, for which we gathered here to pray for the success of the talks. Kuki Women Union leader, Hahat Touthang wpeaking on the occasion said that that the long cherished dream of the Kukis, that is, Statehood will be realized soon. “We hope and pray that the third round of the Indo-Kuki Political Talks between the UPF-KNO and the Governments involving the Centre and State Government today at the national Capital, New Delhi will expedite the formation of a separate state for the Kukis, which is our political aspiration”, she asserted. Lamminlun Singsit, General Secretary, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District conveyed the Kuki people sincere gratitude to the Narendra Modiji Government for appointing an Interlocutor for the Indo-Kuki Political Talks. Earlier, the second round of talks held on October 19, 2016, the KNO and UPF had submitted a case statement for a separate state which was dedicated to the forbears of the Kukis, who according to the two conglomerate of the Kuki UGs, KNO and UPF, braved the British imperialists in the Kuki Rising, 1917-1919 for love of people and country; victims of ‘Kuki genocide’ from 1992-1997 and leaders, officials and cadres of KNO & UPF, who gave their lives to preserve the people and territorial integrity of the Kukis. Similar support rally was also reportedly held at various places across Kuki dominated areas of Manipur .
