Manipur group holds meeting with 40 MLAs

Imphal: Arambai Tenggol, a radical group of Manipur, on Wednesday claimed to have extracted a signed assurance from all the MLAs of the valley districts and two MPs to convey its demands to the Centre to resolve the over eight-month-long crisis in the state.The group had summoned all the MLAs for a meeting at the historic Kangla Fort here on Wednesday. However, chief minister N Biren Singh did not attend it. The Arambai Tenggol’s demands include revoking the SoO with Kuki militants, the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), expelling the Assam Rifles from the state and delisting illegal Kuki immigrants from the Schedule Tribe classification, among other issues. Though the media was not allowed to attend the meeting, a video was circulated where all MLAs and MPs who attended the meeting, along with members of Arambai Tenggol, were seen swearing to protect the lives of innocent people and the integrity of Manipur in front of the historic Kangla Uttra Shanglen.The video showed Arambai Tenggol chief Korounganba Khuman addressing the public at Khwairamband Keithel where he claimed, “The legislators, including CM N Biren Singh, today assured to convey our demands to the Centre.” He claimed that all the 40 lawmakers have signed the assurance to act within 15 days.Addressing a large crowd at Ima Keithel after the meeting, Khuman said, “We cannot declare victory or triumph today. Unfortunately, our Meitei lawmakers are not as united as the 10 Kuki lawmakers. Many valley lawmakers are yet to address the challenges that have arisen since the conflict began on May 3. We appealed for unity in Kangla. Through these processes, Arambai Tenggol seeks to emphasize an important principle that all lawmakers, including the state’s chief minister, are positioned under the people of Manipur, and not above them.”