Separate state for Kukis not acceptable: Manipur CM Biren

  • | Thursday | 22nd February, 2018

They had signed the Soo with the state and Centre in 2008. Biren said there is no evidence that cadres of these groups are involved in extortion and collection of illegal taxes along the Imphal-Moreh route. Biren, who holds the home portfolio, said there are 1122 cadres of the apex Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and 1059 under United People's Front (UPF) in Soo.He added that the Centre spends Rs 7,85,16,000 annually for giving stipend to the cadres. IMPHAL: In the face of the ongoing political talks between Kuki militant groups and the government, Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday told the assembly that his government will not accept any demand for a separate state.Responding to senior Congress legislator K Ranjit Singh's in the ongoing budget session, Biren said Kuki militant groups had earlier promised not to demand a separate state in the Suspension of Operation (Soo) signed between the Centre, state and Kuki militant groups earlier. "There were reports that some splinter groups are indulging in such illegal activities and the governtment took promt action," he added.Of the total 25 Kuki militants groups, 8 are under UPF and the remaining 17 under KNO.

IMPHAL: In the face of the ongoing political talks between Kuki militant groups and the government, Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday told the assembly that his government will not accept any demand for a separate state.Responding to senior Congress legislator K Ranjit Singh's in the ongoing budget session, Biren said Kuki militant groups had earlier promised not to demand a separate state in the Suspension of Operation (Soo) signed between the Centre, state and Kuki militant groups earlier. "The Soo was initiated by the Army and the Kuki militants, before signing it, had assured the state government of not demanding a separate state," he added.The rebel groups have started political talks with the Centre but representatives of the state government are yet to join in, said the chief minister. Biren, who holds the home portfolio, said there are 1122 cadres of the apex Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and 1059 under United People's Front (UPF) in Soo.He added that the Centre spends Rs 7,85,16,000 annually for giving stipend to the cadres. Biren said there is no evidence that cadres of these groups are involved in extortion and collection of illegal taxes along the Imphal-Moreh route. "There were reports that some splinter groups are indulging in such illegal activities and the governtment took promt action," he added.Of the total 25 Kuki militants groups, 8 are under UPF and the remaining 17 under KNO. They had signed the Soo with the state and Centre in 2008. Cadres of these outfits are currently putting up at various designated camps set up by the state government across Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur's hill districts.In the latest political talks held in New Delhi last month, Kuki militant groups put forth their demand for a Kuki territorial council, while keeping the earlier demand for statehood in abeyance, a source said.AB Mathur, former special secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is the newly appointed interlocutor for talks.

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