Imphal, Mar 4: A rally was staged by the Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, on monday, organized by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi, the rally was positioned to express discontentment over the Manipur State Assembly’s resolution to revoke the SoO Agreement with Kuki groups. Additionally, there was a demand for the reinstatement of AFSPA in the 19 Police Stations of the valley.
The rally witnessed the slogans such as, “Democracy not Autocracy”, “Manipur State Assembly resolution Meitei Resolution”, “Manipur State Assembly not for Kuki-Zo”, “Imphal Government Communal Government”, “Manipur State Assembly succumbs to 24 January Kangla Arambai Tenggol Diktat”, “Re-impose AFSPA in the valley”, “SoO not appeasement policy for Meiteis”.
The CoTU’s 24-hour also called for a total shutdown which began today and will culminate on March 5. All shops and other business establishments, educational institutions, offices, and other private institutions in the district remain closed. The vehicular movement along the highway has been exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
CoTU’s Spokesperson, Kaiminlen Sitlhou while addressing the media said that the “total shutdown and the rally was organized to show resentment against the resolution of the Manipur State Assembly to abrogate the SoO agreement with Kuki-Zo.” He further added that the Manipur Legislative Assembly should focus on the present law and order situation in Imphal rather than focusing on the SoO. “AFSPA is needed in the valley districts as much as SoO is needed in the hills”, he asserted.
The rally culminated peacefully with Kangpokpi police vigilant efforts to avert violent incidents.
