Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Meitei, Naga MLAs met; ‘unanimously resolved’ to call for peace: MHA

Kuki-Zo MLAs issued a statement saying they only met with Central government officials and BJP leaders in a separate room and did not attend the meeting with MLAs from the Meitei and Naga communities

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) said that a group of legislators from Manipur, “representing the Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Meitei, and Naga communities” met in New Delhi and “unanimously resolved” to appeal to the people of all communities in the State to “shun the path of violence so that no more precious lives of innocent citizens are lost”.

However, shortly after the meeting, the Kuki-Zo MLAs issued a statement clarifying that they met only with Central government officials and BJP leaders in a separate room and did not attend the meeting where Meitei MLAs were present along with their Naga counterparts.

A source aware of the deliberations on Tuesday told The Hindu that MHA officials and BJP leaders met with four Kuki-Zo MLAs in a closed room for two hours. They added that the officials then met with Naga and Meitei MLAs for about 15 minutes each. “Nothing substantial was discussed. It was made clear that until there can be an assurance to stop violence, no further step can be taken,” the source said.

MLAs from all three communities had been invited to the talks on Tuesday in what was intended as a first-of-its-kind attempt to get elected representatives of the conflicting communities in the same room.

The talks with the Manipur legislators were led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and the party’s northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, although it was arranged by the MHA. Advisor (northeast) A.K. Mishra and Joint Director Rajesh Kamble attended the meeting on behalf of the Central government.

Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Gopchade was also present at the meetings. Mr. Gopchade has been a long-time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker and is also known for being among the karsevaks who took part in the Babri Masjid demolition. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP in April 2024 and became the party’s Manipur in-charge in July 2024. 

The statement issued by the MHA on Tuesday evening did not explain what role Mr. Patra and Mr. Gopchade had during the meeting, which was arranged by the Ministry at a government guest house. However, in their statement, the Kuki-Zo MLAs included Mr. Patra’s and Mr. Gopchade’s names among those representing the MHA.

The Kuki-Zo MLAs asserted that no talks could take place without the Union government first addressing their demand for a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with a Legislature. The legislators, in their statement, said they expressed “reluctance to participate in any joint meetings with the Meitei and Naga MLAs”, emphasising that “any such meetings should only occur after thorough deliberation with the public”.

The talks on Tuesday came nearly a month after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at a press conference on September 17 that resolving the situation in Manipur required dialogue between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, and that the Centre was in discussions with both groups.

“The Kuki-Zo MLAs also emphasised their full confidence in the leadership of the Kuki National Organization (KNO)-United People’s Front (UPF) and confirmed that they have no additional demands beyond those already presented by the KNO-UPF. They urged that political dialogue with the KNO-UPF leadership should resume at the earliest,” the statement issued by the convener secretary of Kuki-Zo MLAs, Chinlunthang, said.

Late on Monday night, the KNO and the UPF, two of the 24 armed groups under a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Union government, emphasised the need for the MLAs to attend the meeting “as it was an initiative of the Central government”.

The KNO and UPF, however, added that the MLAs should be “steadfast” in pressing for the demand of the Kuki-Zo people — which is a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with a Legislature. The KNO and the UPF in their statement stressed that the MLAs from the Kuki-Zo community would not be meeting with their Meitei counterparts unless the MHA addressed their demand for a separate administration first.

At least 237 people have been killed in the ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei people since May 3, 2023. More than 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

Published - October 15, 2024 07:59 pm IST