In a statement on Saturday, UPF convenor Sanga Hmar urged all the chiefs, village authorities, community leaders and the people at large to support BJP candidates in all UPF operational areas.
TFM Desk
After the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella group of armed Kuki outfits, declared support to all BJP candidates, another Kuki militant group under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the government – the United People’s Front (UPF) – followed suit.
In a statement on Saturday, UPF convenor Sanga Hmar urged all the chiefs, village authorities, community leaders and the people at large to support BJP candidates in all UPF operational areas.
As per the statement, the appeal has been made in line with the assurance given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi on February 23, 2022 to “settle the Kuki political issue and bring a logical conclusion to the ongoing political dialogue between Government of India and UPF-KNO”.
Recently, the KNO extended support to all BJP candidates for the 12th Manipur Assembly elections.
KNO also appealed to all chiefs, CSO leaders and all voters to support BJP candidates in all KNO operational areas.
“Any person or organization acting contrary to this appeal will be deemed acting against Kuki interest,” KNO president PS Haokip warned in a statement.
The announcement came amidst allegations by Congress, National People’s Party (NPP) and Janata Dal (United) that their workers in the hill districts are being threatened and intimidated by underground outfits.
In the first week of February, the NPP had alleged that their candidates and workers were being subjected to targeted intimidation and abuse by several militant outfits in Manipur. The party had requested security cover for its candidates and demanded that arms be seized from all underground groups.
Naming the militant outfits, the party also alleged that they were actively campaigning for opposition parties including the BJP.
“The outfits KNF-MC, KNF-Z, UKLF, KNA, and HPC(D) have openly come out in blatant support of our opponent’s candidates from BJP and NPF,” it said.
In the Tipaimukh constituency, the cadres of militant outfits HPC(D) were moving around with arms intimidating the voters and ordering village chiefs to vote for BJP candidates, the party alleged.
Underground groups like KNA and UKLF that are under the “Suspension of Operation (SoO)” agreement with the Centre are threatening NPP party workers and village chief to make them support the BJP candidate Letpao Haokip in Tengnoupal assembly, NPP further alleged.
On the other hand, the Janata Dal (United) on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) to intimidate the voters.
Addressing media persons at its office in Imphal, JD (U) Manipur state unit secretary Maisnam Dorendro said that voters of Behiang and Guitekhul under Singhat AC in Churachandpur district were warned by SoO groups of facing “consequences” if they fail to give 98 percent of the votes to the BJP.
Meanwhile, the Manipur unit of the Indian National Congress on February 23, had submitted representation to the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, complaining that the party’s candidates and workers were being intimidated and threatened by underground outfits.
On August 22, 2008, the Kuki outfits under two umbrella groups, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), signed the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) pacts with the Government of India and Manipur. Of the total 25 armed Kuki groups operating in the state, 17 are under the KNO and eight under the United Peoples’ Front (UPF).