Meitei leaders harden stance with new pledge

At least 36 legislators and two parliamentarians from Manipur, all Meiteis, took an oath administered by a controversial outfit to “protect” the integrity of the state, government officials said on Wednesday, as the majority community appeared to harden its stance in the face of a recent spurt in violence.

- Prawesh Lama

The pledge was taken at a meeting organised by radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol at Kangla Fort in Imphal.

The event — which started at 10am and lasted for about an hour — was attended by 36 members of legislative assembly, Inner Manipur MP Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba, all of whom hail from the Meitei community.

The only Meitei legislator not present was chief minister N Biren Singh, said the officials quoted above. Also in attendance were Congress leaders including former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and state Congress chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh.

The Manipur government did not comment on the meeting. A senior delegation from the Union home ministry is in Imphal to conduct peace talks with various groups, including the Arambai Tenggol, which has sweeping acceptance among the majority Meitei community but which is accused by the Kukis of violence.

“The elected representatives have taken oath protect the land and its people. Arambai’s intention behind today’s meeting was to make a point that all minister and MLAs are not above the people,” said Korounganba Khuman, a leader of the group, after the meeting

“If the Centre does not listen, we will take the movement to the people to protect Manipur,” he added, while addressing a women’s market in Imphal.

The hardening of stance comes amid a fresh spurt in violence in Manipur, with at least nine people, many of them in Meitei-dominated districts, dying in the last month.