National Desk, 1st September: The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation has strongly criticized the Delhi Police for allowing the Kuki Zo community to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on August 31, despite the Foundation’s prior request to deny permission for the event, labeling it as “anti-national.”
In a press release, the organization expressed its concerns, stating that the protest could be exploited by forces targeting India, potentially worsening the crisis in Manipur. The Foundation called on the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs to scrutinize similar matters closely, ensuring that protests perceived as harmful to the nation’s image are not permitted.
The organization highlighted the sensitive situation in Manipur and expressed disappointment in the Delhi Police’s decision, which it believed would have been more mindful given the current tensions. “We had very high hopes from the Centre and expected responsible forces like Delhi Police to take a mindful call before making such decisions,” the Foundation stated.
On the same day, the Kuki Students’ Organisation held a peaceful rally from Keithelmanbi Military Colony to Kangpokpi District Headquarters in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, without any reported incidents. However, the Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation condemned the rally, reiterating their disapproval of the Delhi Police’s decision to grant permission for the protest.
The Foundation also emphasized that, during a prior interaction, Delhi Police had assured Meitei representatives that no permission would be granted for the Kuki Zo organizations to hold the protest. “Despite assurance by the Delhi Police to our representatives that no permission would be granted, they still gave consent, which we strongly condemn,” the press release stated.
Additionally, the Foundation revealed that three Delhi-based Meitei civil society organizations—Meitei Heritage Society (MHS), Delhi Manipuri Society (DeMaS), and Ningols United Progressive Initiative (NUPI)—had provided documentary evidence in a joint application to the Delhi Police, urging a thorough investigation into the nature and motives behind the protest.