Recently, the Gurdwara at Surrey allowed Lien Gangte, president of the Canada chapter of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) to speak on atrocities on minorities in Manipur. NAMTA represents the Kuki and Zomi tribes from Manipur and Mizoram, and the northern parts of Myanmar's Chin state. This meeting has the Indian intelligence authorities concerned about collaboration between pro-Khalistan elements and the hill tribes. The concern seems misplaced. The Manipur conflict is tribal, not religious or secessionist. Gangte spoke about treatment of minorities, not secession from India which is the Khalistani goal. As a background, it is important to note that in Manipur, the Meiteis and Nagas have earlier conducted separatist movements against India, not the Kukis or Zomis. The Kuki and Zomi created their armies for protection of their tribes, not against the nation state. The recent meeting between some Sikhs and NAMTA was about solidarity with the tribes in Manipur, not separatism.
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