‘No compromise on territorial integrity’

“We will not accept peace negotiations that dilute these fundamental issues,” he said. The hill-based Scheduled Tribe Kuki-Zo and valley-based Meitei communities have been engaged in an ethnic conªict in the State since violence erupted last May. So far, over 220 people have been killed, thousands injured, and tens of thousands displaced. The conªict was triggered by a Manipur High Court order regarding the Meitei community’s demand for ST status. The Meiteis claim that they are indigenous to the land and hence should qualify to be called a tribe.

Formal peace talks between apex civil bodies of the Meiteis and Kukis are yet to begin.

Mr. Singh added that the Home Minister had acknowledged deliberate attempts to disrupt the demographic balance of the State, asking why “this fact” was apparently unknown to the Opposition.

While campaigning for Th. Basantakumar Singh, the BJP’s candidate for the Inner Manipur seat, on April 15, Mr. Shah said the Centre had scrapped the Free Movement Regime agreement with Myanmar in order to thwart a conspiracy to change the demography of Manipur.

The CM appealed to voters to ensure the victory of Mr. Basantakumar Singh, who is also a member of the Cabinet sub-committee set up by the State government to identify illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, days after the State saw renewed violence resulting in the killing of two Kuki-Zo village defence volunteers, more civil society organisations representing these tribes issued statements, asking the community to either vote against N. Biren Singh’s party, or abstain from voting, or vote decisively as a community.

On Wednesday, the Committee on Tribal Unity in Sadar Hills followed the Kuki Inpi Manipur Sadar Hills’ statement asking Kuki-Zo people in Kangpokpi district to abstain from voting.

(With inputs from PTI)