Stone Age thinking, says Manipur CM on separate administration for Zo ethnic tribes – Zoram Observer
By Zoram Observer

Aizawl/Saikot (zoramobserver.com): Commenting on a report that Mizoram government along with all political parties and major NGOs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a separate administration for Zo ethnic tribes in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that “it’s Stone Age thinking”.

Yesterday, zoramobserver.com had reported the representation before the Central government for peaceful solution of the insurgency movement led by various Zo ethnic tribes who are mostly settled in the hill districts of Churachandpur and parts of Kangpokpi. The memorandum said “ethnically, culturally, linguistically and socially” the Zo tribes are “different” from the majority Meitei community.

Manipur chief minister’s comment came in a reply to a tweet by Twitter user Naorem Mohen, who posted the same report about the memorandum. He urged the chief minister to give “a fitting reply for interfering in our state”.

To this, Singh replied from his official/verified Twitter handle ruling out such provisions for the Zo ethnic tribals who have close historical and cultural link with their tribesmen in Mizoram.

“Some people are still at the Stone Age thinking,” Singh replied bluntly late in the evening after attending the historic Cabinet Meeting in Churachandpur’s Tuibuong village.
Mizoram questions Churachandpur District status

The memorandum submitted to the prime minister also stated that an old map of Manipur with the boundaries defined by Sir James Johnstone, the British Political Agent of Manipur showed that the entire present Churachandpur District was under the ‘Lushai Tribes’ (of the Lushai/Mizo Hills and Chin Hills) and not a part of the then Manipur.

“It is the inclusion of the Northern Zo territories which is in the present Manipur under the princely state of Manipur by the British that marked the beginning of the marginalization and subjugation of the Zo people in present Manipur,” the memorandum said.