Amid ongoing efforts by the Central government to restore peace in Manipur, political divisions remain stark.
Imphal, July 6: Amid ongoing efforts by the Central government to restore peace in strife-hit Manipur, divergent political developments are emerging.
While senior BJP leader and Singjamei MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh has lauded the Centre’s peace initiatives and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s leadership in addressing the ethnic crisis, Kuki-Zo tribal organisations have firmly declared that their MLAs will not participate in the formation of a new government in the state.
Speaking to the media on Saturday (July 5), Khemchand Singh appreciated the Centre’s approach in tackling the ethnic conflict that began on May 3, 2023. He highlighted that significant search operations have been conducted by joint security forces to recover looted and illegal arms and ammunition—actions that he said have helped instill a renewed sense of security among the public. Singh further noted that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials have been engaging with various stakeholders, including civil society organisations, in peace talks aimed at long-term conflict resolution.
Commending Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “responsible and accountable” leadership, Singh said that although the road to peace may be long, the measures taken so far have laid a strong foundation for restoring normalcy. He also acknowledged the contributions of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Governor-in-Council, and security personnel in supporting the Centre’s peace-building efforts.
Highlighting recent achievements, the BJP leader stated that security forces recovered 203 sophisticated weapons and 160 different types of ammunition on Friday from the hill districts of Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Churachandpur. Similar operations in mid-June yielded 328 arms and around 9,300 rounds of ammunition from the five valley districts. Since February, nearly 1,000 illegal weapons have been returned following appeals by the Governor.
In sharp contrast, the Kuki-Zo tribal organisations announced on Saturday that none of their ten MLAs would take part in forming a new state government. In a statement, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) General Secretary Khaikhohauh Gangte said that a joint meeting of eight tribal bodies had unanimously resolved to abstain from any such political process.
The statement underscored the community’s firm stance on protecting their ancestral land, culture, identity, and rights, adding that the resolution is binding on all Kuki-Zo representatives and organisations.
Since the outbreak of violence, all ten Kuki-Zo MLAs—seven of whom are from the BJP—have boycotted Assembly sessions. They, along with tribal bodies, continue to demand a separate administration akin to a Union Territory with its own legislature.
The contrasting positions underscore the complexities in restoring lasting peace and political stability in Manipur, even as security operations and dialogue efforts continue. (Edited)
