PC Urged to Create Autonomous Tribal State in Manipur

By Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Dec 17 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has been urged to create an Autonomous Tribal State (ATS) within Manipur as enshrined in Article 244 A of the Indian constitution.

Zomi Council (ZC), an apex body of various tribes based in Churachandpur district submitted a memorandum in this regard during the minister's visit to the district on Wednesday.

The memorandum urged the visiting home minister to amend the power and functions of the proposed ATS to cater to the present and future needs of the tribal people of Manipur.

“The Sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution should be extended to the existing six autonomous district councils of Manipur (hill areas) under the proposed ATS,” the memorandum said.

Meanwhile, some of the Kuki armed groups including Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO) and Kuki National Front (KNF) also submitted separate memorandums to the visiting home minister in Churachandpur and Imphal.

ZRO’s secretary information and public relations Kenneth Muana in a release here expressed happiness over the home minister’s visit to their designated camp in Churachandpur district.

“The proposition made by the organisation was found to be realistic and pragmatic for which he assured to take up the matter at the Prime Minister’s level,” the memorandum said.

KNF’s general secretary Aaron Kipgen said that he expects a positive response from the visiting minister during their follow up meeting in New Delhi soon. “We remain firm in our demand for creation of Kukiland within the framework of Constitution of India,” KNF memorandum said.

“As a matter of fact, we would like to request the government of India to recognise that the Kukis only demand those districts and areas in Manipur that are predominantly inhabited by the Kukis for the formation of Kukiland.”

Both ZRO and KNF are among 16 Kuki underground organisations that have suspended their operations after signing a tripartite agreement with the Central and State governments on August 22, 2008.

Earlier, Home Minister had a series of meeting with the public leaders and NGO representatives at Khuga dam site in Churachandpur and Raj Bhavan in Imphal before his departure to Delhi. He also met selected members of All Manipur Working Journalists Union at Raj Bhavan here.