The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an organisation of the Kuki-Zo community, on Tuesday alleged that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has "instigated" the ethnic strife in the northeastern state which began in early May.

        

Commenting on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that Meiteis and Kukis, the two warring communities in the state, were living together for a long time, the ITLF asked why no clashes had taken place between the two sides before the present government started ruling the state in March 2017.

Addressing the RSS Dussehra rally at Nagpur earlier in the day, Bhagwat said, "Who actually fuelled the conflict? It (violence) is not happening, it is being made to happen."

In a statement, the ITLF alleged that the answer to his question is Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

The tribal organisation also raised a series of questions on the Manipur situation such as why AFSPA was recently removed only in valley areas and not in hill districts.

        

While the Meitis live mainly in the Imphal Valley, Kukis are in majority in hills districts.

Another question raised by the ITLF is: "Why was the government notification of 1966 regarding reserved' and protected' forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 suddenly implemented in 2023?'

The strife in Manipur was preceded by protests by tribals against a drive by the state government to evict them from reserve forest areas. -- PTI