Imphal: The Manipur government vehemently opposed Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s reported call on Friday for the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur.

The Manipur government reiterated its unwavering commitment to the unity of northeast India, firmly stating that it would not allow any form of fragmentation at the behest of foreign vested interests or secessionist elements, as ‘openly espoused by the Mizoram CM’.

“Any individual, group or organisation working with such intent shall be met with the strong hands of the law. The Mizoram CM can display better statesmanship by being a good neighbour rather than stoking the fire of hatred and division,” the statement said, referring to Mizoram CM’s interview with a newspaper.

The Manipur government statement claimed that Mizoram CM had recently given a controversial speech in the US by calling for the formation of a Christian nation by carving out areas from Bangladesh, Myanmar and India.

The statement said that in his interview with the newspaper, the Mizoram CM revealed his democratic credentials by espousing the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing along the India-Myanmar international border.

According to the statement, Mizoram CM also calls for the reunification of the Zo people, and he also talks about the possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and the need for disarming and sincere negotiations with hill leaders.

“He further questions the use of border fencing, saying smuggling of guns, weapons and drugs could not be stopped along the Indo-Bangladesh border despite the existence of border fence,” the Manipur government said.

Noting that the ongoing crisis in Manipur is caused by illegal immigrants from Myanmar, the state government said that from 1969 to the present, the number of villages in the districts of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl has increased by 893, from 731 to 1624.

The statement said the increase in the remaining hill districts of Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul, and Kamjong, which are Naga-dominated, was merely 49, up from 527 to 576, a mere 9 percent.

It said that the Mizoram CM is apparently unable to fathom the reasons behind this abnormal 122 percent increase in the mushrooming of villages, many of which are in forest areas, in the first group of hill districts, which are Kuki-dominated or have a sizeable Kuki population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–IANS