The much touted Manipur peace talks initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs resolved unanimously on Tuesday to “appeal to 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.”
The Kuki side, however, claimed that their leaders only met the bureaucrats and no joint meeting with the Meiteis and Naga MLAs happened.
The meeting, as per a statement issued by Kuki-Zo MLAs and their Secretary Convenor, Chinlunthang, was chaired by BJP Manipur prabhari Sambit Patra and had in attendance Dr Ajeet Gopchade, BJP leader, AK Mishra – North East Interlocutor and Rajesh Kamble, IB official.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement said, “A group of elected members of Manipur Assembly, representing Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Meitei and Naga communities, met in New Delhi today to discuss on 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.”
The Kuki MLAs who attended claimed that they met the IB officials and other bureaucrats but did not share the negotiation table with the Meitei and Naga leaders invited. Naga representatives told News18 that sperate meetings happened between Kuki MLAs and central representatives initially but subsequently all stakeholders met.
The Kuki leaders said that they will have to consult the various Kuki-Zo civil society groups before entering into any kind of negotiation with the Meiteis or Nagas.
Kuki-Zo MLAs who participated in the meeting on Tuesday were Haokholet Kipgen, Letpao Haokip, Ngursanglur Sanate and Nemcha Kipgen. A joint statement attributed to the MLAs said, “The Kuki-Zo people wanted a separate administration in the form of UT with legislature. There can’t be talk of peace before this demand is met. ”
BJP Kuki MLA Paolienlal Haokip told News18 that he expected a political solution for the ongoing problems in Manipur. “They should not trivialise a problem that has caused so much trouble to so many Indians. Political leadership should lead such a meeting. IB is meant to collect intelligence. Why are they presiding over an issue that requires political intervention,” Haokip asked. Though initially it was speculated that Haokip was attending the meeting, he told News18, “I wasn’t invited.”
An MLA of Naga origin called the meeting “constructive and cordial.” “All sides agreed to call upon their respective communities to seize violence and work towards peace. There was no bad blood between Kukis and Meitei leaders who attended the meeting. I would call it cordial and constructive but the big challenge for representatives is to go back and convince their respective communities,” the MLA said on condition of anonymity. He added that a second round of meeting could be called soon by MHA.
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