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Manipur tribal group in US holds briefing, slams India for alleged human rights abuse
NAMTA purportedly has connections with Canada-based Khalistani separatists.
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NAMTA's Canada chapter head, Lien Gangte at the briefing in Washington DC. / YouTube/NAMTA
Nearly two weeks after New Delhi dismissed a report by the US State Department alleging human rights abuse in Manipur, a group of people from the Kuki tribes, residing in the US, organized a congressional briefing and took swipes at India.
The briefing was organized by the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), which purportedly has connections with Canada-based Khalistani separatists.
During the event, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commissioner David Curry claimed that violations of religious freedom in India have been increasing without restraint.
Curry, who also heads the religious advocacy group Global Christian Relief, linked the purported "atrocities on the Kuki minority Christians to broader issues prevalent nationwide”.
"Unfortunately, these instances in Manipur mark a broader, widespread pattern of deteriorating religious freedom conditions throughout India," Curry said during the briefing. “Since 2020, the USCIRF has recommended that the State Department designate India as a Country of Particular Concern because of systematic ongoing and egregious violations of human rights and religious freedom.”
NAMTA's Canada chapter head, Lien Gangte, criticized the Indian government for allegedly “failing to meet its constitutional obligations”.
In August 2023, Gangte was observed delivering a speech at the same gurdwara in Canada's Surrey where Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a chief associated with Khalistani terrorism, was shot dead in June of that year. During his speech, Gangte condemned what he termed "attacks on minorities in India" and appealed to Canada for "all possible help”.
On Apr.25, India denounced the US State Department report, which alleged "significant human rights abuses" in Manipur, as "deeply biased" and reflective of "a poor understanding of the country".
"This report is deeply biased and reflects a very poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you also to do the same," the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.
The ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo tribes stemmed from profound disputes over land distribution, resource allocation, affirmative action policies, and political representation. Primarily, the 'General' category Meiteis sought inclusion under the ‘Scheduled Tribes’ category. The state government cites its 'war on drugs' campaign as a significant catalyst for the crisis.
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