Northeast Desk, 10th August: Manipur Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip has raised concerns over his recent appointment to a committee formed to investigate the influx of illegal immigrants and the unnatural growth of new villages in the state. According to a report by India Today, Haokip claims he was appointed to the committee without his knowledge or consent.
The decision to form the House Committee was made by the Manipur Assembly on August 6, with the aim of identifying and deporting illegal immigrants from the state. The committee, a 12-member body, is led by Manipur Water Resource Minister Awangbow Newmai and includes Kuki MLA Letpao Haokip, who is one of the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs advocating for a “separate administration” within Manipur.
Expressing his surprise at the appointment, Haokip stated, “Regarding the constitution of an inquiry committee to investigate the ‘influx of illegal immigrants and unnatural growth of new villages in Manipur’ by the Secretary of Manipur Assembly via Bulletin Part-II, No. 33 dated August 7, 2024, mentioning my name as one of the committee members, I wish to clarify that I had no prior knowledge of this appointment and did not provide my consent.”
Haokip further emphasized that he, along with the other Kuki-Zo MLAs, has not attended the ongoing Manipur Assembly session, rendering his appointment to the committee questionable. “The question of being part of this committee does not arise,” he added.
The formation of the committee comes amid ongoing efforts by Manipur officials to address illegal immigration in the state. Reports indicate that 10,590 illegal immigrants have been detected, and 115 illegal Myanmarese immigrants, including women and children, were deported to Myanmar between March and June of this year.
Before the recent violence in Manipur, Haokip had led a Manipur Cabinet sub-committee in 2023 that was responsible for identifying illegal immigrants. However, his current stance suggests a disconnect between the Assembly’s decisions and the awareness or involvement of certain committee members.
As the situation in Manipur remains tense, Haokip’s allegations raise questions about the transparency and communication within the state’s legislative processes.