National News

We Dravidians Admin Who “Went To Aizwal On Kuki Money” Had Met Mizoram CM Who Called For “Chin-Kuki-Zo Nationhood” Potentially Undermining Indian Sovereignty

November 5, 2024
The Commune

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma sparked controversy following the viral spread of a speech transcript from his recent US visit, where he met with the Chin community in Indianapolis. The transcript, first highlighted by activist Savio Rodrigues in Goa Chronicle, revealed Lalduhoma’s appeal for unity among the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) people across Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India based on ethnic and religious ties. His remarks come at a time of heightened ethnic tension between the Meitei and Kuki communities in neighboring Manipur.

In his address, Lalduhoma expressed concerns that religion could be a source of division rather than unity. He noted, “There is a real danger of our religion becoming a source of disunity and division, rather than a united, strong, and impenetrable fortress.” Lamenting the lack of a united Church of Northeast India, he praised efforts by the Chin and Myanmar Relief Committees of Mizoram, which support Kuki-Zo refugees.

The Chief Minister also emphasized the need for solidarity among Zo groups, referencing multiple factions within the Chin Hills and encouraging cooperation. He commended efforts by the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) and the Chin Unity Forum, both working toward Zo unity. His message highlighted the ambition for a united “nationhood,” transcending the borders that divide the Zo people across three countries.

He also said, “It’s just like a two-way traffic. As far as we are concerned, we shall never ever accept the division of our people into 3 countries. This will never be acceptable. The boundaries are imposed boundaries by the British government. In that committee, we are never represented, we are never consulted. Therefore, it is an imposed boundary and will never accept it. We will never accept construction of a border fencing between us.”

What is interesting is that the same Mizoram CM met with one of the admins of the Dravidianist separatist handle We Dravidians – Shaikh Abid Hasan.

During his visit, Hasan reportedly met with Lalduhoma in January 2024, a leader of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and current Mizoram Chief Minister, who has advocated for extraterritorial Kuki-Zo unity. Hasan also claimed to have met a Christian nationalist from the Mizo National Front (MNF) who could potentially lead Mizoram in the future.

In October 2024, we reported on the 4 admins of the rabid secessionist handle We Dravidians. One of them turned out to be a Bengali Muslim. When exposed, he pretended to not know who We Dravidians were and tried to cut off ties with the group.

However, he forgot to remove the reference on his bio.

Hasan, a supporter of the radical group Indian Secular Front (ISF), admitted during a Twitter Space to having traveled to Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital, with financial backing from Kuki supporters, stating, “I went to Aizawl on Kuki money, okay?”

Hasan also claimed that he met Mizo National Front people and allegedly defamed Meities.

Notably, Hasan has openly expressed hostility toward the Meitei community in Manipur, previously calling for their ethnic elimination. He warned in a tweet, “Believe me, the day my party forms Govt at the centre and in Manipur, we will completely annihilate you.”

Hasan further threatened to drive Meiteis out of their homeland, suggesting Indians should “buy all Meitei properties” or even label Meiteis as “enemies of India,” forcing them to relocate to Burma.

Image Source: OpIndia

He attempted to rally opposition against the Indian government by alleging its support for genocide in Myanmar, aiming to further stigmatize Meiteis and align with Kuki-Zo extremist narratives.

Hasina’s Warning

Following Lalduhoma’s Indianapolis speech, Hasina’s statements have gained new relevance. The former Prime Minister had suggested that Western influence, potentially aligned with church groups in the United States, could be backing aspirations for a “Zo” homeland. This proposed homeland, commonly called “Zoram,” would cover areas of Bangladesh, Myanmar’s Chin State, and India’s Mizoram and Manipur states, where the Chin-Kuki-Zo people predominantly reside. The push for this unified state has reportedly garnered support from various church organizations in the U.S. and is being championed by the Zo Reunification Organization (ZRO) in Mizoram, which has political backing from local parties like the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF).

The Chin-Kuki-Zo tribes’ movement, which has been gaining momentum, is not without militarized factions. Groups such as the Chin National Army (CNA) in Myanmar, the Kuki National Front (KNF) in India, and other affiliated factions have been actively seeking autonomy, with violent actions occurring in their respective regions. Lalduhoma’s speech in the U.S. has fueled apprehensions that Western powers could be taking advantage of these separatist sentiments to push for broader geopolitical interests.

Hasina’s revelation about alleged foreign intentions to establish a Christian state underscores existing concerns about sovereignty and national integrity. Her statement that a U.S. official had sought permission for an American air base on Bangladesh’s St. Martin’s Island in exchange for Western support in her administration indicates deeper regional interests. Although she rejected the offer, Hasina’s warnings highlight the broader strategy that some analysts suggest underpins Lalduhoma’s call for a unified Chin-Kuki-Zo nation.

The Northeast region of India, where Mizoram and Manipur are located, has long been a hotspot of ethnic diversity and political fragility. Observers fear that Lalduhoma’s Indianapolis speech, with its appeal for a Christian-majority state, might resonate with existing ethnic militancy and lead to intensified demands for autonomy. Combined with Hasina’s claims of Western-backed agendas, this narrative points to a strategic interest that could have ramifications for India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh alike.

The coincidence of Lalduhoma’s call for unity among the Chin-Kuki-Zo people, Hasina’s warnings about Western ambitions to redraw borders and this revelation of the meeting with Mizo CM are extremely concerning.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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