IT News
Imphal, Aug 10:
Manipur Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip claimed on Friday that he was appointed to a newly formed House Committee without his knowledge or consent. The committee, established to investigate the influx of illegal immigrants and the unnatural growth of new villages in Manipur, was formed by a resolution of the Manipur Assembly on Tuesday, August 6.
The Assembly’s decision to create the 12-member committee was made under Rule 305A (1) of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, aiming to address growing concerns over illegal immigration in the state. The committee is chaired by Manipur Water Resource Minister Awangbow Newmai and includes Letpao Haokip, a Kuki MLA, who is also one of the signatories among the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs advocating for a “Separate Administration” within Manipur.
However, Letpao Haokip has expressed surprise over his inclusion in the committee. He clarified, “Regarding the constitution of an inquiry committee to investigate the ‘influx of illegal immigrants and unnatural growth of new villages in Manipur’ by the Secretary of Manipur Assembly via Bulletin Part-II, No. 33 dated August 7, 2024, mentioning my name as one of the committee members, I wish to clarify that I had no prior knowledge of this appointment and did not provide my consent.”
He further highlighted that neither he nor the nine other Kuki-Zo MLAs have attended the ongoing Manipur Assembly session. “Therefore, the question of being part of this committee does not arise,” he added.
Manipur officials have reported detecting 10,590 illegal immigrants, and between March and June of this year, 115 illegal Myanmarese immigrants, including women and children, were deported to Myanmar. Before violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 last year, Letpao Haokip had led a Manipur Cabinet sub-committee responsible for identifying illegal immigrants in 2023.
