SOURCE: AFI
Recently, a group representing the Kuki tribes settled in the United States, known as the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), held a “congressional briefing” where they criticized India’s handling of the situation.
Key figures within NAMTA, such as Lien Gangte, the head of NAMTA Canada, have been accused of maintaining ties with Khalistani separatists, a controversial group advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state in Punjab. These allegations have further fueled tensions and raised questions about the true intentions behind NAMTA’s actions.
During the congressional briefing, David Curry, a commissioner of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and also the chief of the religious advocacy group Global Christian Relief, spoke out against what he perceived as unchecked violations of religious freedom in India. He specifically linked the alleged atrocities against the Kuki minority Christians to broader issues prevalent nationwide.
NAMTA’s social media accounts, including those of its US, Canada, and India chapters, were blocked in India last year. This move came after intelligence agencies reportedly started monitoring NAMTA’s activities and investigating the group’s alleged connections with Khalistani separatists.
US State Department released a report alleging human rights abuses in Manipur, which was promptly refuted by Indian authorities.