Kuki Inpi Manipur warns of ethnic cleansing plot, demands ban on RSS-backed ‘chalo Manipur’ march

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 6, 2025

Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kukis in Manipur, has issued a scathing condemnation of the “Chalo Manipur” campaign announced by the Rashtrahit Sarvopari Sangathan (RSS) and affiliated Hindu right-wing organisations, calling it a dangerous ploy to ignite ethnic conflict in the already volatile state of Manipur.

The proposed march, flagged off from New Delhi, plans to mobilize thousands—potentially lakhs—of individuals into Kuki-inhabited hill districts under the pretext of “rehabilitating displaced Meiteis.” KIM has rejected this justification as a smokescreen for a deeply provocative and calculated attempt to forcibly push Meiteis into tribal territories, a move they say would reignite violence and deepen communal fractures.

“The attempts to portray the proposed march as a religious rehabilitation effort are disingenuous and dangerous,” said Janghaolun Haokip, secretary (information and publicity) of KIM.

“This is not a humanitarian effort—it is a march for domination, occupation, and ethnic annihilation. The intent is to forcibly reclaim territory by unsettling tribal populations,”  Janghaolun said.

According to KIM, the RSS-led mobilization comes at a time when tensions in Manipur remain high and justice for previous atrocities remains elusive. The group warns that the campaign, if not halted, will become a flashpoint for renewed bloodshed and systematic displacement of Kuki-Zo people.

KIM sharply criticized Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, accusing his government of enabling Meitei militant groups and pursuing a biased governance model that has marginalized tribal communities.

“This march is disturbingly aligned with a pattern of state complicity—from turning a blind eye to Meitei-led attacks on tribal villages to failing to ensure even basic protection for Kuki lives and property,” the KIM statement read.

“The hill communities have borne the brunt of targeted violence, and this march is yet another step in an unfolding plan to erase them from their own lands.”

The Kuki Inpi has issued an urgent call to the Government of India, central security forces, and relevant intelligence agencies to step in and prevent any such march from entering the hill regions.

KIM also urged international human rights organizations, national civil society groups, and the media to closely monitor the unfolding situation and expose what they describe as a deliberate campaign of ethnic engineering under the cover of rehabilitation.

“We call on every institution that claims to uphold the rule of law to act now. If this march goes ahead, the Government of India and the Manipur State Government will be fully responsible for the consequences—be it violence, loss of life, or destruction of property.”

In its concluding statement, KIM made it clear that the resilience of the Kuki-Zo people should not be confused with passivity. The community will not accept what it describes as settler colonialism under the guise of peace efforts.

“The hills are not a battleground for political experiments. We have survived decades of marginalization and aggression—but we will not be erased. This is not a march for peace. It is a march for war—and it must be stopped,” Janghaolun added.