40,000 Kukis from Myanmar in Mizoram since 2021, never created any problem: Mizoram MP counters Amit Shah 

Rajya Sabha MP K. Vanlalvena, from Mizoram said that though his State had sheltered more than 40,000 “refugees” from the neighbouring country since 2021, they had never created any problems, countering Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement

Countering Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament last week that Kukis from Myanmar contributed to the present ethnic tension in Manipur, K. Vanlalvena, a Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram said that though his State had sheltered more than 40,000 “refugees” from the neighbouring country since 2021, they had never created any problems.

Mr. Vanlalvena’s party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He was not allowed to speak on the Manipur issue even though he is the lone member representing the Mizo community in the Upper House, he said.

Also read | Mizoram CM’s stake in Manipur conflict

“For everyday since the beginning of the Monsoon Session [on July 20], I gave notices to discuss Manipur, but it was never accepted by the Chair. On August 11, a day after Mr. Shah in Lok Sabha blamed the Kuki people from Myanmar, when I wanted to speak, the microphone was switched off and I was not allowed to put across my point,” Mr. Vanlalvena told The Hindu.

No one from the BJP has reached out to him, he said, adding that he had submitted a memorandum to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after failing to get an appointment with Mr. Shah during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on August 11. “The Home Minister was extremely busy due to the debate on the no-confidence motion. I was asked by our Chief Minister to submit a memorandum demanding central aid for internally displaced people from Manipur, which I gave to Mr. Sonowal,” he said.

Around 12,000 people from Manipur took refuge in Mizoram after ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo people and the Meitei community erupted in Manipur on May 3. Last week, the Centre released ₹3 crore to the Mizoram government for the internally displaced people from Manipur last, though the State had asked for ₹10 crore, Mr. Vanlalvena said.