Christian Kukis, who are 30% of Manipur’s population, demand a separate State

(Credit : The Indian Express)

Imphal (Manipur) – For the past 4 months there has been violence in Manipur. Even the Union Government witnessed a no confidence motion because of the situation in Manipur. Now the Christian Kuki society is demanding a division of Manipur to carve out a separate State called Kukiland. The Kuki’s say living with the Meitei community for us is like death. Meitei is a Hindu community. Manipur has a population of about 28.5 lakh, and 30% of it are Kukis.

1. After Manipur got statehood in 1972, there was a demand of a separate Kukiland in 1980. At that time the Kukis together with Zhomi revolutionaries formed an organisation called ‘Kuki National Organisation’.

2. In 2012, after it became known that the demand for Telangana was going to be approved, ‘Organisation for demanding a Kuki State’ announced that they would start an agitation for Kukiland. From that time this organisation is organising bandhs and strikes and blocking movement of goods in Manipur.

(Credit : Mokokchung Times)

3. The area comprising Manipur is 22,327 sq km. The organisation is demanding more that 60% of this area, that is 12,948 sq km for a separate Kukiland.