Manipur: Thousands rally for 'territorial integrity'

Imphal: While the Centre is making a renewed push to start peace talks in Manipur, Valley-based Meitei organisation, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), has stated that there cannot be any compromise on Manipur's territorial integrity. Last week, Kuki organisations held a rally demanding separate arrangements for Kukis. They are seeking separation from Manipur.

On Friday, COCOMI organised a 5-km rally in the heart of Imphal, which was attended by a couple of legislators. The participants held banners which read "Save Indigenous and Rightful Citizens of India", "No Separate Administration", "Save Territorial Integrity of Manipur" among others.

COCOMI has been demanding that the National Register of Citizens exercise be implemented, scrapping of all deals signed with Kuki insurgent groups, combing operations to be done in equal measures in the valley and the hills, saving the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur, and removing so-called buffer zones from districts that prevent people from returning home. Meanwhile, on Monday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) organised a massive rally from the Public Ground to Peace Ground near the Churachandpur DC office. ITLF had stated that it intends to hold a non-violent demonstration to press for its political demand that a Union Territory be created under Article 239A for the Kuki-Zo people of Manipur. The aim of the rally is to ensure that their political demands are expedited as the Kuki Zo people have not yet received a political solution despite loss of lives, homes and properties.