A crucial meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing 17-month-long ethnic conflict in Manipur was held in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Union Home Ministry. This marked the first government-convened deliberation since the ethnic strife broke out on May 3 last year between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki-Zo communities in the northeastern state.
The meeting brought together a group of elected representatives from the Manipur Assembly, including members from the Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Meitei, and Naga communities, who discussed the current situation and explored potential solutions. All participants in the meeting collectively agreed to appeal to people across communities to renounce violence, with the aim of preventing further loss of innocent lives.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) organized the meeting, which was overseen by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The discussions were part of the government’s ongoing efforts to restore peace in Manipur, where tensions between ethnic groups have persisted since last year.
Representatives from the Kuki-Zo community, who attended the meeting, reiterated their position, stating that they were voicing the concerns of their people. They emphasized that the Kuki-Zo people seek a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory (UT) with a legislature, insisting that any peace talks must address this demand before moving forward.
A statement from the Kuki-Zo delegation highlighted their trust in the leadership of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), key groups representing Kuki interests. “The Kuki-Zo MLAs also emphasized their full confidence in the leadership of the KNO-UPF and confirmed that they have no additional demands beyond those already presented by the KNO-UPF,” the statement read. They called for the resumption of political dialogue with the KNO-UPF leadership at the earliest opportunity.
The Kuki-Zo MLAs also expressed reluctance to engage in any joint meetings with Meitei and Naga representatives until their public had been thoroughly consulted. They emphasized that any such meetings should only take place after careful deliberation with the people of their community.
While the meeting lasted for four hours, the outcomes of the discussions were not disclosed to the media. However, the focus of the talks seemed to be on easing tensions and exploring pathways to peace.
Among those present at the meeting were Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and Meitei MLA Thongam Biswajit. Kuki-Zo community representatives included ministers Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen. Other Kuki-Zo MLAs attending the meeting were Haokholet Kipgen and Ngursanglur Sanate. Representing the Naga community were MLAs Ram Muviah, Awangbow Newmai, and L. Dikho.
The meeting was also attended by AK Mishra, the ministry’s advisor on northeast affairs, and Sambit Patra, the BJP’s northeast coordinator and Lok Sabha MP. Other senior officials were reportedly present as well.
While the specifics of the discussions were kept under wraps, the meeting was a significant step in the government’s efforts to address the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur. As the state continues to grapple with the fallout from the violence, the hope remains that dialogue and negotiation will eventually lead to a lasting resolution.
(With inputs from agencies)