The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki tribes, has distanced itself from Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s recent visit to Kangpokpi, stating that it was neither consulted nor involved in the chief minister’s engagements in the district. In a public statement issued on August 9, KIM said the visit was undertaken at the invitation of certain district-level civil society organisations (CSOs) and not at the invitation, direction, authorisation or mandate of the Kuki Inpi. The apex Kuki body said it strongly objected to the visit and the engagements held during it, particularly in view of the Kuki community’s continuing demand for a separate administration. “KIM categorically rejects” the chief minister’s visit and the engagements conducted during the visit, the organisation said in its statement.
KIM also clarified that the actions or decisions of the district-level CSOs involved in the visit should not be seen as representing the collective position, consent or mandate of the Kuki Inpi or the wider Kuki community. The organisation said it would not compromise, dilute or barter away what it described as the political aspirations and collective interests of the Kuki people for temporary engagements, personal interests or political expediency. The statement also appealed to members of the Kuki community to remain “clear, vigilant and united” on the issue. According to KIM, the community’s political aspirations cannot be undermined through isolated engagements or unilateral actions.
The statement comes against the backdrop of continuing political differences in Manipur over the demand for a separate administration for the Kuki community and the broader efforts to address the prolonged conflict in the state.
