KHELEN THOKCHOM
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| Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam |
Imphal, Mar 31 : A Kuki militant group has decided to boycott the Congress in both the Inner and Outer Manipur seats.
The Kuki National Army (India) in a
statement issued to the local media yesterday announced its boycott of
the party, accusing the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of
fragmenting the Kuki community.
Stating that peaceful co-existence among
the Kuki people was “demolished” by the Centre, information and
publicity secretary of the outfit, Barak Kuki, said the group would not
support the Congress in Lok Sabha polls.
“The Congress government has now become the enemy of Kuki people,” the statement said.
Sources said the outfit was operating in
Myanmar and Kuki-dominated areas mostly in the southern parts of the
state and are considered a strong group. The statement did not elaborate
on how the Kuki people were divided.
More than 20 Kuki militant groups
currently have a suspension of operations agreement with the Centre and
Manipur government but the KNA (I) is not among signatories of the
peace agreement.
Reacting to the boycott call, deputy chief
minister and Manipur PCC president Gaikhangam today said it would not
cause any harm to the Congress or the election process in Manipur.
“I don’t think there will be any problem
because of the group’s boycott call,” Gaikhangam, who is also home
minister, told reporters on the sidelines of an election meeting at
Thangmeiband locality here today.
Gaikhangam said the Election Commission
and the state election authorities had set up elaborate security
arrangements to ensure trouble-free polling.
Outer Manipur will go to polls on April 9
while the Inner constituency will vote on April 17. Sitting MP Thangso
Baite of the Congress is seeking re-election from the Outer seat, while
another sitting MP, Thokchom Meinya Singh, is seeking to retain the
Inner seat.
“There are hyper-sensitive, sensitive and
normal polling stations. According to the sensitivity tag of a
particular booth, security cover would be provided to ensure free and
fair polling in both the constituencies. There is no reason to worry
about the boycott,” Gaikhangam said.
Official sources said the Centre had provided 40 companies of paramilitary forces for polling in Manipur.
Kuki Inpi Saikul Gamkai, a Kuki group, and
Saikul Area Naga People’s Organisation, will also boycott the Congress
in Saikul Assembly constituency, alleging the Congress-led state
government was “indifferent” to the grievances of the people.