Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 5: In a crucial move towards restoring peace in Manipur, leaders of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities will take part in a tripartite meeting with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the national capital on Saturday.
This meeting marks the first direct dialogue between the two ethnic groups and the Centre since violent ethnic clashes broke out nearly 23 months ago over the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meiteis, which triggered widespread unrest across the northeastern state.
Although the Manipur government has kept the agenda of the high-level meeting under wraps, the talks are seen as a major step forward in the ongoing peace efforts. The meeting is being facilitated by A K Mishra, Advisor to the MHA for the northeast region, who had earlier held separate consultations with community leaders in Manipur.
While a similar attempt at dialogue was made last year, it failed after the Kuki-Zo organisations declined to engage with Meitei representatives. This time, however, both sides have agreed to come to the table.
Earlier this year on January 17, a four-member delegation from the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), led by Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, met with senior MHA officials including A.K. Mishra and Joint Director Rajesh Kamble in Delhi to discuss the community’s key demands.
The KZC, which represents 13 tribal organisations, along with 10 tribal MLAs, have been consistently calling for a separate administration for the tribal-dominated areas—a demand akin to Union Territory status.
On the other hand, Meitei organisations have urged the government to act against armed militants, address the cross-border influx from Myanmar, combat the drug menace, and implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
The ethnic violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, has led to the deaths of over 250 people, injuries to more than 1,500, and the displacement of over 60,000 residents—many of whom continue to live in relief camps across various districts.
Today’s meeting in New Delhi is being viewed as a potential turning point in the conflict, raising hopes of reconciliation and a long-overdue political resolution.