Guwahati: The Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) has withdrawn support to the N. Biren Singh-led government in Manipur, which has seen three months of ethnic violence that has claimed at least 160 lives.
In a letter to Governor Anusuiya Uikey, KPA president, Tongmang Haokip wrote: “After careful consideration of the current conflagration, the continued support for the incumbent government of Manipur led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh is no longer fructuous.”
“Accordingly, the support of the KPA to the government of Manipur is hereby withdrawn and can be considered null and void,” the letter further said.
The KPA has two MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly, Kimneo Haokip Hangshing from Saikul and Chinlunthang from Singhat.
Speaking to ThePrint, W Lalam Hangshing, general secretary of the KPA, said they had only given “external support” to the government. “We had given outside support, we were never a part of the government. In the present circumstances, it is but natural, and a moral obligation to our Kuki-Zomi brothers and sisters, to withdraw support from the Biren Singh-led government in Manipur.”
He added: “They did not need us in the first place. It is more of a symbolic stance that we are withdrawing support. And when we have already raised demand for a separate administration, this is the de-facto separation. This decision will have no political implication or effect on the government.”
Hangshing said the decision was taken last week, but could not be communicated officially as the party members are in different cities.
However, it was not immediately known if the Raj Bhawan had received the KPA’s official communication.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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