On Saturday, a large rally was held in Imphal to demonstrate against the demand for a 'separate administration' for regions populated by the Kuki community. A large number of protesters from five different districts in the valley of the state came together to rally for the preservation of the northeastern state's territorial integrity, which has been threatened by race riots that began in early May.
A protest march was conducted by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), starting from Thangmeiband in Imphal West district and ending at Hapta Kangjeibunand in Imphal East, covering a total distance of 5 km.
Holding aloft placards, demonstrators raised slogans against those who demanded separate administration, and against "illegal immigrants from Myanmar".
On the day of the demonstration, a group of 21 Members of Parliament from the INDIA opposition alliance visited to evaluate the situation on the ground.
It is worth noting that in May, ten MLAs representing the Kuki community in Manipur called for a separate administration. They claimed that the current administration had failed to adequately protect the Chin-Kuki-Zomi tribes.
According to a report by PTI, the Kukis, who have demanded a separate administration, have however not made clear the definition of a separate administration as also the areas for which they are claiming such a dispensation.
The committee that organised the rally was also against the ongoing talks, reportedly being held in Delhi, between a home ministry team and former Kuki militants.
Sarat, a protester who came from the Bishnupur district told PTI, "After almost three months of arson, killings and torching of our houses, how can we give up our land."
Reportedly, K Gandhi from the Uripok area, who participated in the rally, said, "We want the army to take action against militants."
A group of demonstrators gathered at Hapta Kangjeibunand to call for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens and a special Assembly session before August 5 to address ethnic violence in the state.
More than 160 people lost their lives and many were injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
