Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) General Secretary and spokesperson Seram Neken Singh has demanded the immediate resignation of BJP Manipur president A. Sarda Devi, accusing her of failing to act against seven BJP legislators who have backed the demand for a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo community.
In a press release, Neken questioned whether the state BJP leadership endorsed the demand, which he said raised serious concerns over Manipur’s territorial integrity. He accused Sarda Devi of protecting the party’s legislators instead of taking disciplinary action against them.
Neken said 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including seven from the BJP, had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister on May 12, 2023, seeking a separate Union Territory with a legislature. He also referred to a nine-point memorandum submitted on August 16, 2023, seeking separate posts of Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, and another memorandum dated December 10, 2024, reiterating the demand for a separate Union Territory.
Questioning the BJP leadership’s handling of the issue, Singh also criticised the appointment of Nemcha Kipgen as Deputy Chief Minister, alleging that concerns over the separate administration demand remained unaddressed.
He said Manipur had endured prolonged unrest since May 2023, marked by deaths, displacement and continuing security concerns.
Demanding Sarda Devi’s resignation on moral grounds, Neken appealed to people concerned about Manipur’s territorial integrity to oppose what he described as the BJP leadership’s failure to address the issue.
