Moirang, December 21, 2024 – The 5th Plenary Session of the World Meetei Council (WMC) held in Moirang today issued the “Moirang Declaration” addressing the socio-political turmoil and legal marginalization faced by the Meetei/Meitei indigenous population within and beyond India’s political boundaries.
The WMC emphatically called on the Government of India (GOI) to promptly intervene and bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Manipur, ensuring that the territorial and administrative integrity of the state remains intact. The declaration advocated for either political dialogue or military action, as required, to resolve the situation.
Considering the brutal crimes committed by illegal armed Kuki groups, the WMC demanded the GOI to immediately abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. It also urged the authorities to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently residing in relief camps under harsh conditions, to their own homesteads.
Regarding constitutional protection, the declaration called for establishing a State Population Commission and implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year in Manipur. It opposed any delimitation exercise until the NRC has been fully implemented in the state.
The WMC fully supported the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) in their efforts to secure Scheduled Tribe status for the Meetei people of Manipur. It also reiterated that the valiant Meetei Khun Ngakpas (Village Defence Volunteers) should not be persecuted in any form and urged the governments to integrate them into security forces by forming a new Meetei Regiment.
The declaration strongly condemned both the Union and State Governments for failing to protect the Meetei/Meitei’s historical sacred sites and called for appropriate legal action against those responsible for desecrating and destroying these ancestral places of worship.
Addressing economic concerns, the WMC demanded concrete measures to curb frequent economic blockades that cripple the state’s economy. It also called for enacting an indigenous Business Act to safeguard the interests of local businesses from large-scale external competitors.
The WMC extended full support for the creation of a full-fledged revenue district of Moirang within its entire historical boundary and the restoration of the Jiribam boundary to its pre-1960 status.