Manipur Assembly Session: N.Biren Singh's Invitation to Kuki-Zo MLAs Unnecessary, Another Ploy to Create Confusion

In what could be considered as the most unlikely circumstances, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh informed on Thursday (July 25) that he will personally send invitations to the ten Kuki legislators to attend the forthcoming assembly session in the state.

This announcement comes as Manipur prepares for the sixth session of the Manipur legislative assembly, scheduled from July 31 to August 6.

Speaking to the media, Manipur CM N Biren Singh stressed on the importance of unity and cooperation.

“I will personally extend the invitations, as well as through the assembly. They (Kuki MLAs) should join us, and we are ready to cooperate,” Manipur CM N Biren Singh stated.

The ten Kuki MLAs, including two ministers, have been absent from the last two sessions of the Manipur assembly due to ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

The fifth session, held from February 28 to March 05, and the fourth session, which was adjourned after just 11 minutes on August 29 last year, saw no attendance from these legislators.

However, many keen observers of political development in Manipur see the statement of narcissistic chief Minister N. Biren Singh as a hollow statement. All Tom, Dick and Harry knew that the Kuki MLAs will not fall in the trap laid by Mr. Biren Singh. It is evident from the past experiences that the Imphal valley is no longer safe for the Kukis including the law makers. It may be noted here that even BJP legislator Vungzagin Valte was almost hackled to death. His driver was killed in the attack during the initial stage of violence.

Sources close to Kuki MLAs informed this bulletin that the reply to this invitation will be a flat ‘No’. It is believed that the ten Kuki MLAs will come-up with a statement a day or tomorrow, flatly rejecting the proposed invitation to be send to them.

Biren Singh in  his  dim  knowledge  must  be well aware of the impossibility of Kuki MLAs coming down to the valley of death to attend the Assembly session. Biren Singh though aware of the impossibility, throws ‘bone’ to create a myriad of mistrust and confusion among the general public and the ten Kuki MLAs. Biren has often stated that he is in constant touch with some Kuki MLAs, which on several occasions was negated by Kuki MLAs and CSOs. This could well be just another ploy of chauvinistic Biren to create misunderstanding between the Kuki populace and their elected law makers.

Biren even assured security for the ten Kuki MLAs to attend the assembly session, but how will Arambai Tenggol – his private militia, reacted to this, is a matter of concern as they are the one always advocating annihilation of Kukis. Biren inefficiency in providing adequate security measure to the Kukis is already well experienced, as such; none will fall again in his empty promises.

Biren’s personal invitation could also be read as a ploy to lure Kuki MLAs into the valley of death and handed over them to his private militia group to annihilate them. Trusting in Biren will be the same as digging one’s own grave.

Another aspect of why the ten Kuki MLAs will not participate in the assembly session is that the Kukis and Meiteis are already completely separated. The invitation itself is unnecessary considering the degree of separation. The Kukis no longer have business in the administration of Manipur as the state government is limited only to the Meiteis. The Kuki MLAs no longer have roles in the Manipur state assembly as they have already demanded separate administration from Manipur in May last year.

The physical and mental security of the ten legislators should also be taken into consideration, after escaping near death in the valley of death, limping back to where they are persecuted could be treading in the path of death again. If he could not provide protection to Vungzagin Valte, the then advisor to CM Biren, what would guarantee that he will provide adequate security measure this time around?

It is likely that the Kuki CSOs also will come-up with a statement soon about the impossibility for their legislators to attend the upcoming state assembly session, prohibiting all the ten Kuki MLAs from accepting the personal invitation of N. Biren, who is considered as ‘merchant of death’ for the Kukis.