New Delhi: The much talked about joint meeting called by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with MLAs from Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities Tuesday to find an amicable solution to the ongoing conflict in Manipur ended up only exposing the deep schism that still exists between the Meiteis and Kukis.
Multiple sources confirmed to ThePrint that instead of holding a joint session to resolve differences between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities, as was previously planned, representatives from the MHA—led by A.K. Mishra—first met separately with Kuki MLAs. Mishra, the home ministry’s interlocutor for Manipur, was accompanied by other MHA officials and BJP’s North-East in-charge Sambit Patra and Manipur in-charge Ajit Gopchade.
After their meeting, which lasted for over two hours, a separate short meeting was held with the Meitei and Naga MLAs.
During the two meetings, MHA stressed the need to restore peace in the hill state and said a joint meeting will be held again soon.
A statement issued by the MHA in the evening said, “A group of elected members of Manipur Assembly, representing Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Meitei and Naga communities, met in New Delhi today to discuss the current scenario in the State. The meeting unanimously resolved to appeal to the people of the State belonging to all communities to shun the path of violence so that no more precious lives of innocent citizens are lost.”
A source privy to the development said only four of the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs were present in Tuesday’s meeting. “The Kuki-Zo MLAs had requested an exclusive meeting with the MHA at this juncture, which was accepted by the latter,” the first source said.
The Manipur assembly has 60 MLAs of which 20 are Meiteis, 10 Kuki and 10 from Naga community.
“The Kuki MLAs requested the MHA that since they did not get enough time, they could not consult their constituents, other Kuki MLAs as well as the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) about their stand. They conveyed that they do not want to engage in any discussions with the Meitei MLAs without consulting the CSOs. So, they wanted to have a separate meeting with MHA officials instead of a joint one with the Meiteis and Naga MLA,” a second source aware of the development said.
Of the four Kuki MLAs who attended Tuesday’s meeting, three were from BJP—Leptao Haokip, a minister in the N. Biren Singh government, Nemcha Kipgen, and Ngursanglur Sanate. The fourth was Haokholet Kipgen, an Independent MLA supporting BJP.
“The Kuki MLAs were asked about their position on the situation in the hill state,” the first source said, adding that six of the 10 Kuki MLAs could not attend Tuesday’s meeting as they were informed only on Friday. “There was not much time as some already had engagements that they had committed to,” the source said.
The BJP Meitei MLAs, who held a separate meeting later with the MHA representatives included Th. Satyabrata Singh, who is also the Speaker in the Manipur assembly, Th. Biswajit Singh, who is the environment minister and Th. Basanta Singh, among others. The Naga MLAs included Ram Muivah, Awangbow Newmai and L. Dikho.
The Meitei and Naga MLAs were asked for their views on the prevailing situation in the state and leaders from both the communities urged for amicable solution to the conflict.
The Kuki-Zo MLAs have been pressing for a separate administration for them for peace to return to the hill state.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Kuki People’s Alliance, which has two MLAs in the Manipur assembly, while endorsing the central government’s proposal for talks with MLAs of Meiteis, Kuki and Naga reiterated that the Kuki MLAs will “steadfastly advocate our rightful claim to a Union territory with legislative powers, a necessity borne out of compulsion given our territorial segregation”.
Tuesday’s meeting follows Union home minister Amit Shah’s statement on 17 September that the roadmap for resolving the Manipur situation in the coming days is already prepared and the situation can be resolved through dialogue between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The Kuki-Zomi MLAs have been pressing for a separate administration for them for peace to return. This should be the steadfast standpoint of the Kuki-Zo MLAs in the meeting.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei community since May last year following a solidarity march called by the All-Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur to oppose the demand to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the non-tribal Meitei community.
While the tribal groups including the Chin, Kuki, Zomi and Mizo, the Hmar and Nagas enjoy ST status in Manipur. The non-tribal Meiteis do not. So far, the violence has claimed over 250 lives and displaced close to 50,000 persons.