By Indrajit Kundu: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), in a letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, sought his intervention in the Manipur crisis and urged him to raise the matter of separate administration for tribals with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The tribal body also sought President’s rule in the violence-hit state.

Rahul Gandhi was in Manipur to visit relief camps and interact with people affected by the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities that has continued for over 60 days now.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, in the letter to Rahul Gandhi, said while both sides have suffered, the tribals have faced the brunt of the violence and urged him to take up the matter of a separate administration for tribal areas with the Centre.

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“Since the start of the violence on May 3, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of the tribals, has recorded 106 deaths among the tribals. Over 201 tribal villages have been burnt which include over 7,000 houses burnt, 356 churches have been demolished and the number of displaced tribals has reached 41,425,” the letter read.

The tribal group said the violence was not a spontaneous event arising out of a misunderstanding but “a carefully orchestrated plan by the N Biren Singh-led government and its allies”.

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“After so much blood and trauma, there is no possibility of the two sides living together again. This is why we, the tribals, are demanding a totally separate administration from the Manipur government under the Indian constitution. We pledge to be good neighbours when peace returns,” ITLF said.

“For peace and fairness to be restored, we also demand the imposition of President’s Rule. The person responsible for the violence cannot be part of the peace process,” it said.

“We, therefore, urge you to take the matter of facilitating the total separation of the tribal people from Manipur to the Congress leadership and also to the concerned officials of the Government of India. We also request you to raise the matter with the Union Home Minister in favor of separate administration for the tribal people,” it added.