The ten Kuki-Zo MLAs of Manipur have appealed to the Election Commission of India to make voting arrangements for displaced Kuki-Zomi-Hmar voters who are taking shelters in different parts/states of India for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner on March 25, the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs urged the Commission to pass directions to the States and Union Territories of the Union of India to identify such displaced people immediately. They also appealed to the Chief Election Commissioner to notify special polling stations wherever needed for the internally displaced people of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar community from Manipur, and to allow the said displaced eligible voters of the community to cast their votes using Aadhar Cards and other valid documents, as many of them would have lost their voter identity cards.
“Following the communal conflict since May 3, 2023 in Manipur, many of the Kuki-Zo have fled Imphal valley after their houses, properties and churches have been looted, burnt and destroyed by the Meitei militia groups of Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and Meitei mobs,” the letter stated.
The communal violence has resulted so far in deaths of over 160 innocent Kuki-Zo civilians; burning and destruction of over 360 churches, over 205 villages and over 7,000 houses in the Imphal valley and different hill districts.
The MLAs also said that as a solution to the conflict remains elusive and with the situation still volatile, none of the displaced Kuki-Zo people are in a position to return to the Imphal valley and their villages compelling them to take shelter in different parts of the country, including Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Delhi and several other cities.
“This suffering of Kuki-Zo, which is among the few human tragedies witnessed by independent India, should not be allowed to turn into a classic case of denial of the universal adult franchise guaranteed under Article 326 of the Indian constitution,” the MLAs said in the letter.
Stating that the ECI had notified arrangements to enable the displaced people currently lodged at relief camps in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts of Manipur to cast their votes, the Kuki-Zo MLAs added that many Kuki-Zo genuine voters would be deprived of their constitutional rights to exercise their franchises as provided under the constitution, if similar or suitable arrangements are not made for the displaced people taking shelter in different parts of the country.
