Viewing districts on ethnic lines is unfortunate: Manipur CM Biren Singh

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday criticised the mindset of communities which view district boundaries through an ethnic lens, calling it "most unfortunate and detrimental to peace and harmony".

Singh emphasised the need for "reorganisation of districts" and suggested that it should involve thorough discussions with legislators and civil society.

"It is crucial to revise district boundaries based on administrative convenience rather than ethnic lines," Singh told the Assembly.

He acknowledged complaints that some villages were incorrectly assigned to new districts and called for a statewide survey involving village authorities, community leaders, and legislators to address these issues. Singh added that there are also calls for the rollback of some newly created districts.

Addressing concerns raised by Naga People's Front legislator Leishiyo Keishing about the creation of new districts in 2016, Singh acknowledged that while the stated purpose was administrative convenience, it often served political interests.

"While it is clearly mentioned that creation of districts is for administrative conveniences, it served as political conveniences as regards to some districts," the CM said.

Keishing had highlighted how the formation of the Kangpokpi district in 2016 had affected the political aspirations and other opportunities of many Tangkhul and Rongmei Nagas.

Singh noted that Naga residents in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur have alleged lack of essential services and illegal taxation, leading them to petition the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reassignment to more suitable districts.

Singh said, "Recently, several Naga residents living in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts met me and claimed that they were not receiving essential services, commodities and opportunities in their districts. Additionally, media reports suggested that goods and other taxes have been levied on them." Singh argued that these issues arose because the new districts were not properly addressing the needs of local communities.

In 2016, the then Congress government led by Ibobi Singh had created seven new districts. While the districts of Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal was carved out from Senapati and Chandel districts respectively, Pherzawl and Jiribam were carved out of Churachandpur and Imphal East districts respectively.

"Such demands would not have been raised had the Nagas staying in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts appropriately received their rights and government benefits," the CM said, adding "there are also reports that certain groups are checking and verifying on the people of the district who have been living there since time immemorial. This is very contradictory to the democratic set up of the country."