Lamka, Jun 10: Zomi Council, the apex body of the Zomi tribes is all set to get vocal on its demand for autonomous tribal state within Manipur with the inauguration of a new administrative office here early today.Tribe leaders of the ever growing Zomi tribes, nine as of now, attended and address the selective gathering during the inaugural function at Siam Mansion in Nehrumarg. Mention may be made that the Zomi Council have been pressing both the centre and State Govt for formation of an autonomous state for the tribals under the provision of Article 244A of the India constitution, and its intention in inauguration of a new administrative office complete with a Media Centre is telling enough of its intention to get vocal on that end.
Sources inside the Zomi apex body however said they would tread cautiously as working in tandem with other like-minded interests would be crucial to realize their demand. ‘To this end we have met representatives of the UNC and Kuki Inpi, and working on an appointment with other communities as well,’ said a source. The need to focus on the ‘status’ and not the name in handling the present political aspiration of the tribal was also the stressed that was noteworthy in today’s meeting. The Zomi Council seeks to justify their demand for autonomous state in the light of the solid stand adopted by the majority community to protect the state’s integrity and the need to address the political aspiration of the state tribal communities.
~TSE
Photo Credit:Zolengthe
