SENAPATI, DECEMBER 17 (MExN): The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has urged Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to cancel his proposed visit to Senapati via Kangpokpi district, to attend the “Robvena Ni” festival on December 18 in the best interest of all communities.
In a press release, the Kuki-Zo Council made clear that it respects the celebration of Robvena Ni and does not oppose CM Biren Singh’s participation as a guest. It, however, emphasized that the Chief Minister’s past actions cannot be overlooked, while citing his role in the ongoing violence against the Kuki-Zo community.
The Kuki-Zo Council stated that it would not allow an individual with such a controversial and divisive history to travel through Kangpokpi by road, as it could incite public hostility and result in violent incidents. The council’s statement comes nearly 19 months after the start of what it describes as a "genocidal" campaign by the Meitei-led government against the Kuki-Zo people. The ongoing violence has left many members of the Kuki-Zo community deeply resentful of the state's leadership.
Asserting that the Chief Minister’s presence in the region could reignite tensions, the KZC urged Biren Singh to reconsider his travel plans in the interest of public safety and communal harmony. It further warned that any attempt to breach the buffer zones, established to avoid conflict between different ethnic groups, would be met with strong resistance from the Kuki-Zo community.
The council stated that any incidents arising from a failure to respect the buffer zones would be solely the responsibility of the N. Biren Singh-led government.
