The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur has accused the Congress party of having links with Kuki-Zo organizations, alleging a shared agenda of demanding the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
The accusations were made by K Sharatkumar, the BJP’s state general secretary, during a press interaction on Wednesday.
Sharatkumar claimed that the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council had recently sent a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
The letter, according to the BJP leader, urged Congress to introduce a “Kuki Political Solution Bill” aimed at creating a separate Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people.
He referred to this as evidence of a connection between the Congress and Kuki organizations.
The BJP leader also pointed out that the demands made by Kuki groups were strikingly similar to those made by Congress, including calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
Additionally, both the Congress and the Kuki organizations have been advocating for the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
Sharatkumar further alleged that during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Kuki Inpi Manipur issued an election directive urging the Kuki community to vote for Congress candidates, promising their support for a separate political administration in return.
He also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of Kuki separatist groups in the election process, claiming that some of these groups, including those observing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, were working with Congress to manipulate the election outcome.
The BJP leader also pointed fingers at the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023, accusing PS Haokip, the Myanmar-born president of the Kuki National Organisation, of orchestrating the unrest.
Sharatkumar cited viral videos showing members of the Kuki National Army wielding sophisticated weapons, suggesting the involvement of foreign forces in the conflict.
