Two Kuki-Zo MLAs defy community whip to attend Manipur assembly in person

MLAs Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Haokholet Kipgen at the assembly

GUWAHATI: Two Kuki-Zo MLAs travelled to Imphal Wednesday in defiance of a community whip and attended the Manipur assembly session in person for the first time since violence erupted in 2023, creating a hill-valley divide that is still to be bridged. Saikul legislator Kimneo Haokip Hangshing of Kuki Peoples' Alliance (KPA) and Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu, both in Kangpokpi district, chose to be in the assembly for the first day of the session despite Kuki Inpi Manipur's explicit instruction to stay away from Meitei-majority Imphal. Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen and her BJP colleague, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip, attended the session over videoconferencing. Other four Kuki-Zo MLAs from BJP abstained. Manipur has nine Kuki-Zo MLAs, including two from KPA. Six of them had attended the budget session last Feb virtually. CM Y Khemchand Singh's office issued a statement lauding the two Kuki MLAs for making what it termed a "historic physical return" to the assembly. "Their attendance comes after a gap of three and a half years, during which representatives from the community had not physically participated in person in House proceedings," it said.

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Singh attributed the MLA duo's "positive step" to BJP-led govt's efforts to reduce the trust deficit among communities. "With collective efforts, Manipur can strive to walk the path to peace," Singh said. Kuki Inpi Manipur has barred elected community representatives from venturing into Imphal Valley until Union and state govts accede to their demand for a separate administration for the hills. While violence involving Kuki and Meitei communities has ebbed, Manipur is firefighting escalating tensions between Naga and Kuki groups in the hills, mainly along the Imphal-Tamenglong Road corridor in Kangpokpi. Since May 13, at least 17 people from Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have died in instances of violence along the Kangpokpi-Tamenglong stretch.

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