On Sunday, June 4, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha, wrote a letter to the BJP National President, JP Nadda, sharing the grievances of the Gorkha community in the state of Manipur, which are being created by the activities and dominance of the Kuki terrorists. The letter of grievance mentions how the Nepali speaking Gorkha community is a minority in the state of Manipur, with a population of only 63, 756 as per the 2011 census.
The letter reads, “The Nepali speaking Gorkha (Sanatani Hindu) minority community has been inhabiting the state of Manipur for a very long time, and the Sanatani Hindu Gorkha community believes in the value of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’, and hence, it has been coexisting by maintaining a cordial and harmonious relationship with all the communities, both in the valley and the hills. Majority of the people of this community are farmers, retired defense personnel, small businessmen, and marginalized labourers, and their settlements are scattered across various districts of Manipur, of which the majority is concentrated in the Kangpokpi and Senapati districts in the hill areas”.
“A significant number of Gorkhas is also found in the Imphal West district, Imphal East district, Kakching district, Tengnoupal district, and in the border town of Moreh”, the letter continues.
Talking about the present ethnic crisis in the state of Manipur, which erupted between the Hindu Meiteis and the Christian Kukis from May 3, 2023, the Gorkhas have mentioned in the letter that this crisis has badly affected the Nepali speaking Gorkha minority community across the state.
It has been highlighted in the letter that there are 154 Gorkha villages in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur, being dominated by the Kuki community, where both the Kuki militants under suspension of Operation (SoO), and various Kuki militants who are not under SoO, are operating. As per the Gorkhas, the present ethnic clash has totally disturbed the peace and tranquility as the heavy extortion by the Kukis and their other demands, as well as activities like forcefully taking away the herds of the Gorkhas, have become normal affairs of the present times.
All the SoO and non-SoO Kuki terrorist groups are also involved in the purchasing of sophisticated weaponry.
“The affected Nepali speaking Gorkha community from Kakching district (Serou), Tengnoupal district (Moreh town), Imphal East (Sadu Lampak, Saikul, Pukhao, Ingkhomang, Ekou area), and from other adjacent areas, have fled to safer areas”, reveals the letter. It then draws attention to the fact that the Gorkha people from vulnerable and sensitive villages need immediate permanent security of their life, liberty, and property.
