The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union and Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) on Saturday expressed concerns over the spurt in number of voters in the State’s final electoral roll especially in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas and asserted that the same is a grave challenge to the indigenous communities of the state.
A joint release issued by MTU Youth Wingh Convenor Haobijam Surjit Meetei and MIYC Coordinator T Parijat Singh noted the multifold increase in number of voters in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Tengnoupal districts in a short period.
Churachandpur has the highest number of voters in the state with 1,82,732 voters while the number of voters in Kangpokpi has suspiciously increased to 1,03,563 voters and Pherzawl to 34,897 voters, it stated.
It mentioned that there are around 1,600 new villages in the said districts.
According to the 2011 census, Kukis formed 16 per cent, however it increased to 30 per cent according to the 2021 census, it asserted. The indigenous people are presently facing a population war with an alarming influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, they added.
The two bodies expressed discontentment over the privileges allegedly given to immigrants by the government, some politicians and bureaucrats for mere political gains. In return, the immigrants have encroached on native lands and destabilized the political and economic situation of the state, it lamented.
Inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list is crucial in order to protect the native land and economy and maintain political stability, it asserted. It further demanded removal of illegal Kuki-Zo from the ST list.
It went on to say that the Indian government must first sign an agreement with Myanmar and Bangladesh governments to identify the illegal immigrants and repatriate them if NRC is implemented in Manipur.
It is a collective effort of all the indigenous communities to tackle the situation, it said and added that it is high time for the government and the public to initiate necessary comprehensive measures to counter illegal immigration. It expressed apprehension that the indigenous people would be left without land if the alarming situation were ignored.
