Members of the 'Zo United' stage rally demanding separate administration

Thousands of people marched in nine towns, cities and 17 different villages across the country during a nationwide rally to demand a separate administration for Kuki-Zo kindred tribes in Manipur. The rally was organized under the aegis of Zo United, a Civil Society Organisation parent body for all Kuki-Zo kindred Tribes in Manipur.

Albert Renthlei, Convenor of the Zo United, stated that the rally is to speed up the demand for separate administration for the Kuki, Zomi , Hmar and Mizo (ZOs) while progress towards the grant of separate administration has been slow .

The organisation stated, “The Kuki-Zo kindred family have endured seven months of ethnic cleansing attack by the majority Meiteis, who controls the government, and the Kuki-Zo kindred family have borne the brunt of the violence with 203 villages totally burnt down, more than 7000 house burnt down to ashes, 152 souls have lost lives and more than 50,000 displaced. The majoritarian policies of the Biren Singh government led to tensions and a complete breakdown of trust between the Meiteis and the tribals. This eventually led to the outbreak of the violence.”



The organisation said that all tribal districts combined have just one full-fledged government hospital – the district hospital in Churachandpur. Shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment plague the basic medical facilities found in tribal areas, it added.

Ten Manipur MLAs, including seven belonging to the ruling BJP, have been demanding a ‘separate administrations’ for the tribals in the state.

Chief minister N Biren Singh is in New Delhi. He stated in X, “In attendance alongside the Union Minister of Defence, @rajnathsingh Ji, were the Minister of Law and Justice, @arjunrammeghwal Ji, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, @JoshiPralhad Ji. Crucial matters concerning Manipur's security, development, law & order, etc. were discussed".