KANGPOKPI, May 6: BJP National Spokesperson and North East In-Charge Dr. Sambit Patra concluded a two-day visit to conflict-torn Manipur, making key stops in Churachandpur, Imphal, and Kangpokpi in an effort to assess the volatile situation on the ground and consult with stakeholders amid the state’s ongoing ethnic and political crisis.
Dr. Patra, who arrived in Imphal on Monday, met with top political leaders, including former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata, MLAs Y. Khemchand, Vungzagin Valte, and LM Khaute, as well as several other BJP legislators. The series of engagements aimed to review the prevailing law and order situation and gauge political sentiments.
On Tuesday, he traveled to Kangpokpi District, where he held a closed-door meeting with BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen at her residence in the district headquarters. Though details of their discussion remain undisclosed, the meeting is viewed as part of the BJP leadership’s ongoing efforts to evaluate the crisis from local perspectives and ensure meaningful outreach.
Later in the day, Dr. Patra interacted with civil society and tribal representatives at the 112 CRPF Camp in Kangpokpi. He engaged with members of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), SAHILCA, KWU Sadar Hills, and other tribal organizations. While no official statement was issued by the BJP following the interactions, CoTU sources revealed that Dr. Patra appealed to community leaders to contribute towards restoring peace and ensuring the safe movement of civilians along National Highway 2, a vital lifeline in the region.
During the interaction, CoTU handed over a detailed three-page memorandum to Dr. Patra, outlining the Kuki-Zo community’s urgent concerns. The document highlighted the following key demands:
Development and Rehabilitation: Demands for a Hills University, a functional hospital in Kangpokpi, and comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programs for displaced families.
Security Concerns: A call for increased central security deployment to counter persistent and targeted violence against the Kuki-Zo people.
Administrative Underrepresentation: Complaints of marginalization and denial of political and administrative rights.
Call for Separate Administration: A renewed push for administrative autonomy, framed as essential for the community’s survival and safety.
Protection of Tribal Areas: Enforcement of constitutional provisions under Article 371C and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules to protect tribal lands and cultural identity.
Peace Commitment: An affirmation of the community’s commitment to peace and dialogue within the constitutional framework, asserting that their demand for autonomy does not equate to secessionism.
Cessation of Hostilities: Proposals such as the imposition of AFSPA across Manipur, separate peace talks for Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the establishment of a structured process for ceasefire agreements.
