KIM for Tonsing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 14 2012: Highlighting political aspiration of the Kuki people and forces allegedly inimical to their interest, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) expressed hope that the national leaders of the Congress party will provide the Deputy Chief Minister's post to senior Congressman Phungzathang Tonsing.

In a memorandum addressed to the All India Congress Committee president the apex body of the Kuki tribe mooted that the new Government of Manipur will need a Deputy CM for which Phungzathang Tonsing will be the right choice for the post as he is the most senior tribal member in the State assembly.

In addition to Tonsing having already held the post of PCC president, he built up the Congress party during NDA rule, recounted the KIM representation and described Tonsing as effective in both administration and electoral politics which has been proved through the cent percent success of Congress nominees in the recently held election from Churachandpur district, of which he was the Minister in-charge.

Justifying P Tonsing's candidacy for the post of Deputy Chief Minister with the assertion that he enjoys the confidence and acceptability of majority Congress Legislature Party members, the Inpi lamented that successive elected representatives of the Kuki people are being deprived of even Minister of State portfolio since the First Parliament of Indian independence inspite of the fact that present Lok sabha MP Thangso Baite if the fifth elected MP from the Kuki community of Manipur.

Conceding that the tribal people of Manipur are divided into Naga and Kuki ethnic communities, KIM president Thangkhosei Haokip mentioned in the memorandum that creation of Dy.

Chief Minister post will be in the interest of communal harmony and a stable government in Manipur.

Congress led government, particularly in Manipur has regrettably neglected the Kuki's political demands by following a Naga Appeasement Policy at the expense of the Kukis, Thangkhosei contended while alleging that in every Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly and District Council elections Nagas under United Naga Council (UNC) and Naga People's Front (NPF) with active armed support from NSCN (IM) have been attacking Congress candidates and workers.

"On the contrary Kukis have been staunch Congress loyalist who formed an important support base for Congress party.

It is common knowledge that the Congress candidate from Outer Manipur constituency won because of Kuki support against Naga anti-Congress election platform," he maintained.

Regretting that demand for Sadar Hills District, despite approval by the Manipur Cabinet in principle still remains unfulfilled, he said such continuous denial of rights of the Kuki people has the potential to create a sense of mistrust and alienation against the Congress party in every Kuki.

Within the Congress Ministry also last year the Tribal Development and Hills Department was arbitrarily divested from a Kuki Minister to appease the tantrums of a Naga Minister, alleged the KIM representation and reminding that unlike the Nagas armed organisations, who waged a secessionist armed movement against India 'our Kuki militant organisations have now entered into Suspension of Operations with the government for a peaceful solution to our political demands' .

Continuation of blatant pro-Naga policy by Congress government could be disastrous for the peace process, cautioned the apex body reiterating its belief and hope that Phungzathang Tonsing will be allotted an esteemed post to mentally and physically sustain his endeavour for promotion of the Congress organisation in the region.

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