Imphal: Manipur Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip has claimed he was appointed to a committee examining illegal immigration and new village development in the state without his prior knowledge or consent. This assertion was made on August 9, following the Manipur Assembly’s decision to create the committee on August 6.

The committee, tasked with addressing the influx of illegal immigrants and the growth of new villages in Manipur, is led by Water Resource Minister Awangbow Newmai and consists of 12 members. Haokip, a Kuki MLA and one of the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs advocating for a “separate administration” within Manipur, was included.

In his statement Haokip said, “Apropos to the constitution of an enquiry committee to enquire about the ‘influx of illegal immigrants and unnatural growth of new villages in Manipur’ by the Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly vide Bulletin Part-II, No 33 dated 7th August, 2024, mentioning my name as one of the members of the Committee, it is hereby clarified that I have neither any knowledge about my appointment nor given my consent.”

He further explained, “I, along with nine other Kuki-Zo MLAs, have not attended the ongoing Manipur Assembly session, so being part of this committee is not applicable.”

Letpao Haokip was appointed as head of a Manipur Cabinet sub-committee that carried out a drive to identify illegal immigrants in 2023, before the outbreak of Manipur violence.