Imphal ; ‘The recent violence in Manipur has been inaccurately characterised as a fight between two communities by Rahul Gandhi in the national media a few days ago’ stated Jagat Thoudam, advisor of Indegeneous People’s Front of Manipur (IPFM) in a press briefing in Imphal.

He said that this portrayal is entirely false and disrespectful to the Meitei community and for that Gandhi should apologise to the public. He said that conflict in manipur does not involve a confrontation between tribal and non tribal communities. It is important to note that all tribes affiliated with Naga groups, as well as the Thadou tribe are not participating in the violence, Jagat echoed.

Further he also said that the conflict should not be viewed as a religious divide between Christians and non-Christians. He highlighted that houses belonging to Meitei Christians in Churachandpur, Moreh, Ekou, Motbung and other areas dominated by Kuki communities have been subjected to arson and the inhabitants forcibly expelled from their homes. He alleged that this has been carried out by Kuki militant outfits andvtgeir supporters, including the Indgeneous Tribals Leader Forum ( ITLF) which manipulates the term ‘ indegeneous’ to assert territorial claims. 

Consequently, Meitei Christians have tragically become refugees within their own state, he lamented. He strongly came out against the illegal immigration taking place under the guise of poppy cultivation, drug smuggling which involves Myanmarese nationals in Indian soil.