No division of Manipur, in touch with Kuki MLAs: CM

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, who was in the national capital to meet Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday, said he is in regular touch with the 10 Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs who have demanded a separate administration for hill districts.

- Prawesh Lama

"I have told the MLAs that I will provide them with security and that we must work together to restore normalcy. I have also spoken to civil society organisations in Imphal (Meitei groups) and said that the MLAs should not be stopped from visiting the valley (Imphal) for work. Also, let me reiterate there can be no division of Manipur," he said.

The 10 MLAs, on August 16, had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a separate chief secretary and police chief for the hill districts, where a majority of Kuki and other tribal groups reside. The tribal MLAs alleged a threat to their lives from Meitei groups.

Singh is a Meitei. The Meiteis that lives in the plains and valley constitute 53%, and the tribal Kuki group that resides in the hill districts forms 29% of the state's population (as per 2011 census).

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Singh claimed that the violence that erupted on May 3 was planned, that his government is not against Kukis, and that the recent face-off between the Assam Rifles and the state police was a misunderstanding.