IT News
Imphal, Jan 27:
Meeitei (Meitei) Tribal Union (MTU) warns that the abnormal increase of Kuki-Zo voters in the Final Electoral Roll has created a worrisome situation for the indigenous people of Manipur, both in the valley and hills. In a statement released by MTU’s youth wing and MIYC, the organizations have urged communities from the hills and valley are urged to act on this matter, as it is no time to sit idle. The most significant increase has occurred in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, and Tengoupal due to the influx of the Kuki-Zo population from Myanmar. According to MTU’s statement, Churachandpur ranks high among all the districts with 182,732 voters in the latest electoral roll. There is a significant increase in the population of voters in Kangpokpi and Pherzawl, with 103,563 and 34,897, respectively. In these districts, the number of villages has increased by around 1,600. The statement reads “Kuki-Zo population has increased from 16 percent in 2011 to 30 percent in the 2021 census.”
MTU laments that many politicians, driven by their self-interest and the desire to expand their vote banks, have included many who are not legally entitled to be in the ST list. Now, they are also given protection under government schemes. According to MTU, the previous government and Kuki bureaucrats have created this situation. In 1953, 42 villages under Thoubal District were included in Churachandpur district. Furthermore, eight assembly constituencies in the valley were also included in the Outer Manipur constituency. Out of 700 square miles of the valley, around 300 square miles, which are inhabited, both hill and plain people are living together.
MTU’s statement reads “out of 13 lakh households, an Indian government report suggests that 40 percent do not have Patta on which their houses are built. This situation has become unbearable for the Meiteis and other indigenous communities.” Given this crisis, MTU is urging for an NRC. It says NRC is a must to stop the influx of the Kuki-Zo population from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
